Police investigate ‘loud bang’ outside Quinn company office

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched an investigation following a report of a “loud bang” close to the offices of Quinn Industrial Holdings Limited in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh.

The incident, which was said locally to have “shook buildings”, occurred in the vicinity of Ballyconnell Road, near the company’s manufacturing factories, at around 10.30pm on Thursday night.

Officers carried out extensive enquiries in the area, which straddles the border with Co Cavan, and a police helicopter was deployed. Nothing untoward has yet been found.

Padraig Murphy, chairman of the trade union Unite in Cavan-Fermanagh, which represents workers at the company once owned by Sean Quinn, said he was "deeply concerned" about the ongoing hostility surrounding it.

“My concern is that this situation is escalating,” he said. “I have consistently said that what is happening will damage inward investment and could bring about the end to all these jobs. To try and survive in business amidst this turmoil must be difficult, very difficult.”

The Ulster Unionist Party's Alastair Patterson also condemned the incident, which is being investigated by the PSNI as a suspected explosion.

“Any form of activity such as this has to be condemned outright. These people are now currently putting people’s lives at risk. If this type of activity does not stop someone is going to lose their life in that area,” he said.