STATEMENT BY COISTE FHEAR MANACH, C.L.G., ON APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS TO QUINN INSURANCE.

Fermanagh County Committee of the Gaelic Athletic Association, on its own behalf and on behalf of the G.A.A. clubs in this County, condemns the appointment of administrators to Quinn Insurance Ltd.

The Quinn Group, through its Chairman, Sean Quinn, a former captain of Fermanagh Inter-county teams at all levels, has contributed massively to the economy of this county and of our neighbouring county of Cavan, as it has done in several other parts of Ireland.

It currently employs a large number of our players and other members, and they have always assured us that this was one of the best and most generous employers on this Island.

For almost half a century, the Quinn family has been involved in this Association, at all levels and in many roles. Never, in our experience, has any member of that family failed to meet his, or her, commitments to the community and the broader society of Fermanagh and Ireland.

Therefore, despite the contrary assertions of the Regulator and the Minister for Finance, we have no hesitation in accepting Sean Quinn’s word that he would pay all his liabilities, as they fell due and that, there was no risk to policy holders.
We are particularly annoyed that the Regulator had no understanding of the symbolic importance of withdrawing the company’s right to write insurance policies in the Six Counties of the North.

We too are Irish and we feel the Regulator’s understanding of Ireland is limited, evidenced by the position he has adopted on this issue. We would strongly urge him to rethink his decision.

The entire G.A.A. community in this county and, we believe, in the surrounding counties too, stand four-square behind Sean Quinn and the Quinn Group. We call on the Irish Government to act quickly to sort out the mess, which has been created by the ill-considered and pre-emptive actions of one of its agents.

Peter Carty
Chairman
Coiste Fhear Manach, C.L.G.