THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE turned out on the streets of Ballyconnell in Co Cavan last night to show their support for the Quinn family.

The rally heard from Seán Quinn, the bankrupt former billionaire, who has been involved in a high-profile court case with the former Anglo Irish Bank and whose son Seán Quinn jr is currently in the Mountjoy Prison training unit after being found in contempt of court.

The Impartial Reporter says that Quinn sr fought back tears as he spoke at the rally which was also attended by the Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, former Meath manager Seán Boylan, player Colm O’Rourke and the high-profile priest Fr Brian D’Arcy.

All addressed the crowd – estimated at between 3,000 and 4,000 – and a letter of support from the chief executive of Ryanair Michael O’Leary was read out, the Irish Times says.

The crowd chanted Quinn’s name as members of his family and the man himself addressed the supporters who at times chanted his name.

In a video on the Impartial Reporter website, Quinn refers to his nephew Peter Darragh Quinn who is evading a Garda arrest warrant after being found in contempt of court.

“I would like to say a special word of thanks to young Peter who is getting a bad reputation this weather, but Peter has been a huge supporter of mine and the family’s and the Quinns continue to be the Quinns and we stand by each other,” the man who was formerly the richest in Ireland told the crowd.