THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of the Quinn Group has had his family car completely destroyed by an arson attack at his home in Co Meath.

Paul O’Brien’s BMW 4-by-4 was completely ruined in the attack, which also caused damage to the front of his home and to a nearby house at the Foxlodge Woods estate in Ratoath, Co Meath last night.

There was nobody in the house at the time of the incident, which occurred shortly before 11pm last night.

The attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting the Fermanagh-based Quinn Group, its properties and its senior managers.

Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Phil Flanagan condemned the attack, who said the attack on a personal property was “a new and sinister departure”.

“In these tough economic times, it is difficult enough to run a business without this type of carry on.

“People need to realise that if it is not Paul O’Brien who is CEO of the Quinn Group, then someone will simply be put in his place, and they may not have the same interest as Paul does in protecting these jobs. He needs our support to do this, not personal attacks like this.”

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses who may have seen suspicious behaviour in the vicinity of Foxledge Woods at the time of the incident to contact them at (01) 801 0600.