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The country will have two new TDs today*

*Hopefully.

IT SHOULD BE known at around lunchtime today who has taken the two vacant Dáil seats.

Counting in the by-elections in Roscommon-South Leitrim and Dublin South West gets under way this morning. Voters are choosing replacements for new MEPs Luke Ming Flanagan and Brian Hayes.

The 11 candidates in Dublin South West will make their way to Tallaght to see who has taken the Dáil seat, while the ten hopefuls in Roscommon will congregate at the Hyde Centre in Roscommon.

The picture should become clear at around lunchtime.

By-elections have been fruitful for the coalition since 2011. They have won three of the four votes, but lost the most recent one, the Dublin West by-election.

TheJournal.ie will be at both count centres today. For the latest news from both Roscommon and Tallaght, follow @TJ_Politics

Read: Fine Gael’s John McNulty has lost the Seanad by-election – and here’s who beat him

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10 Comments
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    Mute Noddy Mooney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:36 PM

    A more accurate headline would read “Sean Quinn admits to making ‘conscious’ decision not to pay his debts”

    235
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    Mute Martin Forde
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:20 PM

    A lot of poorly informed people here. He was led up the garden path, factual. Read the Sunday papers. He guaranteed he’d clear his debts in full but classic paddy sly ball couldn’t have that. What is worrying is the amount of educated people that see Mr. Quinn as a gangster. There have been some serious beauties that never had even the smallest intention paying anyone, but not here.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:38 PM

    Martin, the only way he could afford to pay his debts was by continuing to run his insurance business illegally, ie. without sufficient reserves to meet the cost of claims.

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    Mute Y.F.
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:14 PM

    Mattoid,
    Quinn put forward a perfectly viable plan on how he proposed to pay back all of the debt within 7 years. Anglo ignored this because they knew there was great money to be made in the insurance companies, group companies etc. The administrators came in and too wages that would knock you over. A lot of people have made HUGE money from the takeover of Quinn’s Irish assets. Sean saw that they were taking everything off him and that there was no way he could pay back the debt without any assets. He disputed owing the 2.3bn, and had already given them 450+ millions worth of property, business etc. He believes that he doesn’t owe the 2.3bn and wants the courts to decide this. However, as he put it on radio today ‘Anglo put cart before the horse’ and went ahead to take what is not proven to be theres. So he moved assets, yes, however Anglo have not proven that they are entitled to them. The don’t want this case against them getting to court. They want to make sure that Quinn’s money runs out long before it hits the courtroom. They’ve spent millions and millions in their pursuit of him already. Let the courts decide who owns them before jailing people etc..

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    Mute James Lawlor
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:22 PM

    Sorry YF not buying it. And Mr. Justis Peter Kelly is not either.

    65
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    Mute James Lawlor
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:45 PM

    *Justice* doh!

    21
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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:21 PM

    @YF
    His “perfectly viable plan” involved, as I said, continuing to operate his insurance business illegally.
    Perfectly viable if you believe the law doesn’t apply to you I suppose…

    45
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    Mute Will
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:54 PM

    mattoid,
    And what about the fact that VHI were running their company without the proper reserves either….double standards?

    42
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    Mute CM
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:01 PM

    Mattoid, where are you getting this crap from? The reserves were to be brought back up as part of the Quinn/ Anglo plan, involving a cash injection of less than a third of what was ultimately provided under the plan that was ultimately implemented, and to be paid back over 7 years.
    What part of the plan involved illegal trading? Or did you perhaps just make that up?

    23
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    Mute Dean Pritchard
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:33 PM

    He’s dead right, I’d do the same.

    181
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    Mute Niall
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:52 PM

    I couldn’t agree with you more. And what’s more pathetic is everyone of the 114 people that have given you the thumbs down so far would do the exact same. Be it moving 20k here or there or putting the house in the brothers name or whatever. Hypocrites.

    121
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    Mute John K Gallagher
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:03 PM

    like not paying the bookies when you lose a bet. criminals!

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    Mute Fiona Callan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:23 PM

    Exactly , if the baliffs were coming in to your home, you would be packing up valuables the night before. Was always a supporter of Quinns, have relatives in that part of country and was prob influenced by their views, however even I am shocked at what has come out in the last week.
    1) Guarentees and sharepledges were signed 6 months after money was lent to support shares. Correct me if Im wrong but is this not the same as me going into paddy powers now and placing a bet on Euro 2012, spain to win when the result is known?
    2) The youngest signed signed a 1 page document provided by Anglo at 19 in the students union in Galway. For €79 million
    3) Anglo tried to get the Quinns to sign retrospective legal advice 6 months after the fact.
    Now I am not a conspiracy theorist under normal circumstances but something here stinks to high heaven. Anglo, under the control of the government, aided and abetted by the media, are destroying this family to protect who /what ? Previous Government/ Financial Regulator/ Irelands business reputation ? Never has a government agency fought a family so hard, you have to wonder why ? Red thumb away.

    120
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    Mute Y.F.
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:31 PM

    You’re right Fiona.
    I too, have never lived in a world of vendetta’s, cover-ups, propaganda and witch-hunting but there’s something VERY wrong with the way this whole thing is playing out. Let the truth come out…

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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:16 PM

    @Fiona
    To protect the taxpayer.

    26
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    Mute David Chambers
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:36 PM

    Him,his family and all the heads in Anglo should all be locked up,thieves,the lot of them!!

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    Mute Patrick Lyons
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:47 PM

    There are not enough words in the English language to describe the arrogance of this man.

    151
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    Mute Dean Pritchard
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:53 PM

    Arrogant? I think not. This man has been hunted down like a wild animal. It’s a wonder that this stressful witch hunt hasn’t left him with ill health.

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    Mute Noddy Mooney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:06 PM

    If he was “hunted down like a wild animal” he’d most likely be dead by now.

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    Mute Dean Pritchard
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:09 PM

    It’s a metaphor… get with the programme my friend. You seem to think that this ridiculous procedure is a game.

    32
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    Mute Noddy Mooney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:16 PM

    I know it’s a metaphor, but it’s an emotive and inaccurate one which seems to suggest that the law is not for the likes of Mr Quinn.

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    Mute Charlie Bucket
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:50 PM

    Not enough words in the English language??? Good point Patrick!!!! Maybe ask the IRBC bosses….They are all from England…

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    Mute Dermot Bland
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    Jul 28th 2012, 1:54 PM

    Will someone please think of the children

    6
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    Mute Dean Pritchard
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:35 PM

    He’s dead right, I’d do the same. The banks have alot to answer for…

    120
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    Mute Mark Larson
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:01 PM

    They do but so do people like him, who is paying for all the mess they got us in? That’s right the tax payer.

    152
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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:08 PM

    And therefore you should go to Jail too Dean, that is of course if your not a bored troll , Dean Pritchard, how are all the faculty @ Harrison University anyway?

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    Mute Dean Pritchard
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:16 PM

    Stop flirting with me Norgay. I’m entitled to my opinion on this public forum…

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    Mute John Deane
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:20 PM

    Dean

    Will you ever stop talking crap.

    80
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    Mute Jim Hunt
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:34 PM

    Red thumb TROLL Green Thumb DELUDED FOOL

    29
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    Mute Thosj Carroll
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:42 PM

    It’s Sean Quinn not his son who should be in jail.

    110
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    Mute Jim Hunt
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:02 PM

    Some life saving medical service for some child sometime in the future will not be available as a direct result of that “concious decision” to try and stay filty rich.

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    Mute Páid Ó Donnchú
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:07 PM

    You wouldn’t be hearing much guff out of Seán Quinn if his massive CFD gamble had paid off.

    Then he’d be the ‘private, shy, reclusive businessman’.

    But now he’s on the radio complaining, you can guess he’s trying to keep our money in far away places.

    94
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    Mute Tonya Maguire
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:43 PM

    Paid,
    That isn’t fair. He said he would pay the full 2.8 billion back at the very beginning. He didn’t mention that the loans were made illegally. Anglo took all means to pay away from him when they wouldn’t accept the 7 year plan he submitted. This plan was viable, and was passed by the Deutsche Bank.

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 3:57 PM

    Take this from the start -if u bought shares in a company whose accounts were signed off by the biggest accountancy firms in the world to then find that the company u bought into was broke at the time u bought the shares.wouldnt u feel a bit p—–off and because of that ur own asset values halved overnight u would b doubly p—–off.and then u find the very same institution is running after u like u were the bad one then u’d b trebily p—– off. People have hung themselves over less . Stick with it Sean .

    86
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    Mute Noddy Mooney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:03 PM

    Wether you’re right or not, none of it changes the fact that the law requires him to pay his debts.

    86
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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:21 PM

    That’s capitalism. He made his fortune through capitalism so he can lose it through capitalism. One of the first thing a secondary school student learns in business studies is about risk. When you invest money you do it at a risk. You can make money or lose money. Unfortunately for Quinn his risk was bad so he needs to pay.

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    Mute _doesnotcompute
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:36 PM

    I would’ve done my own homework first, before investing in the company, never mind what the biggest accountancy firms in the world said

    60
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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:53 PM

    Eilish, take it back a step further – the money he invested wasn’t his to spend. He was legally obliged to maintain sufficient reserves to meet the cost of insurance claims. He flouted the law, took a huge gamble and the authorities quite rightly called him on it.

    63
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    Mute Y.F.
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:56 PM

    Well said Eilish! Let’s hope he does stick with it. It’s the very last thing Anglo want. They’ve thrown every obstacle in the book in his way, in hope the case he’s bringing against them doesn’t make the courtroom. Shame on you Anglo. Let Sean have his say. Prove that you are entitled to the assets before you decide to bring men to court over the movement of them! You go Sean!

    40
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    Mute John K Gallagher
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:08 PM

    he was greedy, he lost a bet on it. he should pay for his mistake

    61
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    Mute Mick Collins
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:21 PM

    Eilish it’s not the same institution running after him you foolish girl! It’s us the taxpayers because that institution is now OURS. Whatever Anglo sold to Quinn he didn’t have the money in the first place. He siphoned that off the Company which was fraud. This guy is an unmitigated rogue who began to believe he could do no wrong and now he wants to steal our money to live in a lifestyle to which he has become accustomed!

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    Mute maura
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:52 PM

    Eilish He did NOT buy shares. He had CFD ie he agreed to buy the shares at a certain price, but only pay 10% or so at that time, and possibly sell them at the same time if the price was right so making a profit. When price started to go away from him he had to come up with the difference so he borrowed it and agreed to buy more. Classic double up to make up.

    31
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    Mute CM
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:07 PM

    @doesnotcompute – how exactly would you do this homework? Using the fraudulent accounts? Investors are entitled to be protected as well as the public.
    @maura – he DID buy shares as well as CFDs.

    14
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    Mute Derek Larney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:18 PM

    There’s a thing in business called due diligence. Before doing a deal that big you send in your team of lawyers and forensic accountants to rifle through the books. You don’t just do this to protect yourself, you also do it because when you find any problems you can then use them as a bargaining chip to haggle down the price. It is not that much different from buying a second hand car- it’s in your interests to find faults with it to get a better man gain.

    But Quinns style of business was never about doing due diligence. He is more the type of old style guy who would decide if you’re honest by looking you up and down. That doesn’t cut the mustard when the consequences are €2.3bn. And because he didn’t do his due diligence he got sold a pig in a poke over the telephone by Sean Fitzpatrick. The very fact an Anglo employee got his niece to sign a €79m document in a students union bar proves that the whole thing was done at breakneck speed. That suggests that Quinn thought the share price was going to go up, not down. He wanted to get it done asap before the share price rose. But if he had of done his due diligence then his team would have come back and told him to avoid Anglo like the plague.

    Also don’t forget that Quinn refused to hire actuaries in his insurance business, citing them as too expensive. An actuary is the cornerstone of the insurance business, they use complex quantitative analysis to assess and evaluate risk which then informs the underwriters how to price the policy, T&C’s, etc so the insurance business isn’t left exposed if a rake of claims come in simultaneously. If you don’t employ actuaries then you’re not an insurance company, you’re a bookie who makes up odds on the fly and hopes for the best. And that is how Quinn operated, basically as a gambler. His gambling instincts transferred from insurance to banking deals and this deal was the one that was one step too far.

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    Mute CM
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:54 PM

    Absolutely not. Due diligence refers to analysis undertaken in a merger or takeover. Ordinary shareholders (even of the size of Quinn) are not privy to the intricate details that would be provided in a due diligence process. Analysing publicly available information does not constitute due diligence.
    Instead they must rely on information provided by the company and it’s Auditors. There is no scope for an ordinary shareholder to just demand additional information and rifle through the books in any more detail those provided by the audited accounts and company reports.
    So to say Quinn should have just magic-ed up additional info, under the assumption the audited accounts were fraudulent, is not only unrealistic, it would have been impossible. And to say because you feel he was wreckless, it’s fair to assume he wouldn’t have used the valid information if it was available is typically presumptive of the opinions in some of these comments.
    You’re also wrong on Anglo sending someone down to Galway for Quinn’s daughter to sign guarantees. This was done much later than the investments were made, and for the sole purpose of giving ANglo additional leverage over the Quinn family when the shares were tanking. It wasn’t to take advantage of an expected share price burst. The Quinn family went along with Anglo, but should have jsut refused.Their paying the price for going along with Anglo in more ways than just the investment.

    19
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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jul 27th 2012, 9:54 PM

    “I’m not the easiest man to advise” so says the man himself above. He went into it with his eyes full of dollar signs. Greed, ego and hubris are what made him, and the very things that destroyed him.

    17
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    Mute Bernadette Dunne
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    Jul 28th 2012, 12:46 AM

    Where in any report about Sean Quinn does it say he refused to pay his loans. It does say however that Sean Quinn has in the past said he could have his loans paid back in 7 years but no it was not good enough for most people and it seems that most just wanted to destroy the Quinn group completely So congrats to all who have ridiculed possibly the most successful employer in Ireland he gained such respect from his employees.

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jul 28th 2012, 1:17 AM

    You’ve been drinking again Bernadette, haven’t you?!

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jul 28th 2012, 1:20 AM

    You’ve been on the sherry again Bernadette, haven’t you!? What’s with all these mammies coming out in defence of Quinn anyway?

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    Mute Brenda Malone
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:05 PM

    I’d be taking this guy’s passport off him at this point. Definite flight risk.

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    Mute Jones Frank
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:07 PM

    The man took money (illegally), gambled it and lost, that’s clear. What I can’t understand is those of you defending him. Sure, there are others that are guilty of this and worse, that’s not much of a defence though. I hope he, and those of his family involved, spend the rest of their lives paying for this, not necessarily in jail.

    83
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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 7:30 PM

    His novel defence is akin to an armed robber saying that he shouldn’t be jailed whilst there are still murderers out there who haven’t been caught yet!

    24
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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:15 PM

    Sean, Anglo are gone. It’s the IRBC that is chasing you on behalf of us, the citizens. While you didn’t take flight to some foreign country, you made every effort to send your assets abroad. What ever happened to your tears and snots pledge on RTE TV doc to pay the tax payer back every last cent…

    72
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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:07 PM

    Two wrongs don’t make a right

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    Mute B9xiRspG
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:08 PM

    just put the lot of them into jail – him the banks the lot of them!

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:22 PM

    At the time Anglo gave the impression they were the fastest growing bank in the world .how could he have known what a heap of a mess it was in

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    Mute Noddy Mooney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:26 PM

    The same way you or I don’t know if the favourite in the 3:15 at leopardstown has a dodgy leg or not.

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    Mute Eugene Bennett
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:48 PM

    Anglo were unaware that Quinn was amassing such a large stake in the bank because it was done through indirect means such as CFDs. When Fitzpatrick and Drumm found out they were horrified as it had the potential to do serious damage to the share value; if the market got wind of a large holding in the hands of one person they would start dumping the shares because of the danger Quinn himself would offload them, in turn devaluing the shares (basically a game of chicken except the winner panics first!). The whole maple 10 and Quinn 6 fiasco was an attempt (most likely illegally, that’s before the courts at the moment) to get out of this situation and unwind Quinn’s holdings. Although Anglo certainly misstated the performance of the bank they did not encourage Quinn to buy so many share, quite the opposite. He took a massive, stupid gamble for which he is too arrogant to accept responsibility and now we are all paying for it. Certainly the heads of Anglo would be before the courts, and some of them are already, but that in no way exonerates Sean Quinn. If he really feels Anglo people should be prosecuted he should contact the Gardai abd give evidence

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    Mute CM
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:15 PM

    @Noddy. The race card for the 3.15 at Leopardstown won’t have reports from teams of regulated entities confirming that the horse’s leg is 100%. And if they did, you’d probably feel justified in saving some of the stake from the bookie

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:18 PM

    Noddy the law going after the wrong people.he put a lot of time
    Money and effort into his lifetimes work and the crooks at the banks wrecked the whole show.they were the bankers he was the worker .

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    Mute Noddy Mooney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:24 PM

    Then explain to me what a CFD has to do with running an insurance company, or a packaging company, or any other type of business? The man gambled his fortune and lost. Simple as that.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:25 PM

    Eilish stop deluding yourself!

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    Mute Turlough Mc Givney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:46 PM

    Sean Quinn is an Entrepreneur that provided 1000′s of jobs for people in the economy during the boom, he took calculated risks and worked hard. The bankers with white collars & bent government officials should be the ones that are weeded out and put behind bars – not Sean Quinn. I agree he is been made a Scape Goat.

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    Mute Mark Nolan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:09 PM

    Turlough if he was that benevolent he wouldnt have risked all their jobs on such a high risk adventure as trying to own a bank. Sean Quinn has spent his life telling people who have run industries for many many years that they havent a clue, that he can run them better. Quarrying, hotels, insurance and banking. The sheer arrogance of the man has been what has brought him down. Failures to heed the rules of the insurance industry placed him in an advantageous position to build up the vehicle that he hoped would pay off his debts. Had he had to play on a level playing field with everyone else he wouldnt have had that behind him. I dont understand peoples need to defend this man. His actions are reprehensible, but we are the ones who are going to end up paying the bill. of course the rest of the muppets who brought the country down also need to be dealth with, but thats for a different day. Sean Quinn and his family deserve nothing from us, pity, defending or bailout. Its baffling that people seek to protect his actions.

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jul 27th 2012, 10:14 PM

    Mr McGivney, Anglo Irish Bank created 1,000′s of jobs for people during the boom too. Both gamblers, both lost, and all those 1,000′s of jobs disappeared along with them. It was a mistake to bailout Anglo, but we don’t have to bailout Quinn just cos he gave your ma a job or he goes to mass every Sunday.

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    Mute Y.F.
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:40 PM

    It beggars belief that Anglo have gone from such a hated company, to the ‘good guys trying to retrieve the money from the bad guys’. Let’s not forget that Anglo’s debts are in excess of 30billion. They are pursuing Quinn for a disputed 2.3bn. … Best timing ever for them to pursue someone. Takes the heat off them for a little while..And why were the government so quick to bail out Anglo and burden us all with their huge debts…to pay off the bondholders? It makes you wonder

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:08 PM

    Y.F., what part of Anglo no longer exists don’t you get? Quinn is being chased by the IRBC, a company set up to achieve the maximum return for the Irish citizen. It is they we champion and they’re doing a pretty good job on our behalf. This Anglo are now jerks argument is null and void…

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    Mute Y.F.
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:37 PM

    IRBC?

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    Mute CM
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:28 PM

    @Gagsy – maybe Bertie Ahern should change his name to Berty Bassett and then he’d be a great chap who never did anything wrong.

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    Mute CM
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:29 PM

    I meant @O’Reilly

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    Mute Charlie Bucket
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:44 PM

    O Reilly, You champion IRBC? You champion the fact that we pay them 1000 euro an hour (MC Killop and Co). You champion the fact that the top guys of IRBC have paid themselves 400 million in 27 months? You champion the fact that they spend hundreds of millions of tax payers money on legal teams so that Quinn cannot bring their case against them?????

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    Mute Doc Benway
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:18 PM

    Oh good so he’s just admitted his guilt on radio, no further need for an expensive trial. Straight to jail.

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    Mute Charlie Bucket
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    Jul 27th 2012, 9:00 PM

    He admitted taking some of his money out of Anglo’s reach. These guys owe 40 billion, have paid themselves mad money (1000 quid an hour), have got rid of local sponsorship eg GAA (they are not Irish so they wouldnt understand the importance of the community in Irish business), and have antagonised suppliers to the companies they are ‘running’, And Sean took money out of their reach???? How could he??

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    Mute Doc Benway
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    Jul 28th 2012, 1:18 AM

    I’m sorry Charlie, he’s a common criminal, a thief. He has admitted this on radio and to add insult to injury he has also stated that he is glad to have committed this crime. His statement may incriminate the rest of his family, so now they will also quite rightly go to jail. I now await him ratting all his buddies out, and because we now are run from Germany there is some chance of this large group of fraudsters and criminals being held accountable. I’m delighted to see an end to their sleazy behaviour.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 27th 2012, 9:36 PM

    Has anyone seen Pat Neary lately or seen a bad word written about him for that matter in our tax exiled and government owned ”unbiased” media??

    Do you remember Pat?
    Pat was the Financial Regulator who presided over many classics including the bank guarantee and the famous Anglo €7.5 Billion ”Sub” from PTSB etc,etc,etc.

    A good golfing buddy of Taiosaigh and Bankers.

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    Mute Chris Rudden
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    Jul 28th 2012, 12:47 AM

    Off the 100 plus comments on this article this is the best! It’s been along time since i’ve heard Pats Neary’s name mentioned and it’s not even in an article written by a journalist! I would be very interested in an article written by thejournal.ie to inform us on where Pat is now and what he’s doing. I wonder has he spent his €600,000 plus “golden handshake” yet!?

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:41 PM

    I dont see mr Quinn as some sort of victim however if you think he will go quietly into the night you are all mistaken. Unlike the masses in this country he will give the banks the politicians & the legal system, which are all corrupt, a bloody nose & I admire him for that. Thats what we need people to stand up to corrupt authority. Sean Quinn did not wreck this country the banks & the politicians did. Ireland has a short memory.

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    Mute Charlie Bucket
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:55 PM

    Yes I find it hilarious that Anglo/IRBC are now the heroes. They only owe 40 billion after all….But good plan at shifting the blame. Quinn Oh so Bad! Anglo OH so Good! ???????

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    Mute Janet Leonard
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    Jul 28th 2012, 10:00 AM

    Sean Quinn tried to take over this bank he had no problems with it then..!

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    Mute Patrick Colm Devaney
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:16 PM

    Funny how the comment section to this article is business as usual. But when it comes to Seanie Fitz, you’re not allowed to say anything because it’s an ”ongoing case.”

    Am I right in thinking that this case is still ongoing as there’s a possibility Sean Quinn can be put in jail?

    Our freedom of speech in Ireland is as suppressed as the poor people of China.

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    Mute Richard Keogh
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:18 PM

    Quinn can be put in jail for civil contempt of court, it’s not a criminal matter and he has already been found in contempt. If criminal charges are brought against him I suspect they will be closed. Seanie Fitz has been charged with criminal offences which are before the court which is why comments are closed on his.

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    Mute Gagsy 99
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:29 PM

    Elisha, Anglo would have been dead and buried many times over since then without any of the Quinn related stuff or the accounting issues. Look at the 10s of billions of recapitalizations they’ve needed.they were lending massively to property developers far more aggressively than any of the other banks and were way more concentrated in this business – when the crash came, game over.

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:37 PM

    I think lhe likes of KPMG or price water house would have a little more about them than a horse at a race course-but it’s not about that it’s about lending him money for shares under false pretense

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    Mute John K Gallagher
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:22 PM

    he made the decision to gamble his money, nobody put a gun to his and told him to invest in anglo, all we ask now is that he pay the money he owes. he refuses so he should be in prison. no argument will change these facts!

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    Mute John McG
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:34 PM

    Eilish, he signed the loan agreement. He knew what the money was going to be used for – propping up the share price. Who would have benifited from this – he would off because of all the shares he had. Why did he not shout foul then instead of waiting till now, because it did not work. The judge was spot on in what he said.

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    Mute Henry Porter
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    Jul 27th 2012, 7:58 PM

    What am
    Axes me is that Quinn believes that he is some sort of victim. His righteousness is frankly astounding. He owed the monies to Anglo, now effectively to the State. He thinks it unfortunate that the courts agreed with this position. He was very rich but that was not enough. He gambled his riches and lost. Don’t whinge about it now and look to place the blame elsewhere.

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    Mute Charlie Bucket
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:47 PM

    He has paid Anglo hundreds of millions back but Anglo happen to forget to mention that point in their vendetta….

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:11 PM

    If Anglo hadn’t cooked the books as they did nothing much would have gone wrong with the share value.its just they were s——-themselves for running a rogue bank is why in reality the share price dropped.

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    Mute Mick Collins
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:25 PM

    Eilish where did Sean…your pal get the money to buy the shares in Anglo?…from his own company? It wasn’t his!

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:43 PM

    Eilish, Quinn amassed his shares using money taken from his insurance company illegally. He clearly got hooked on the notion of controlling a large bank. All this done without the knowledge of Anglo execs. When they did realise the extent of his stake, that’s when the shit hit the fan. But he got that far all on his own. Looks to have been a case if working boy done good – on top of the world ma – until it all came crashing down…

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    Mute Carl Gillen
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:51 PM

    Eilish, what exactly is your agenda here? Do you accept or not the law of the land? The Quinns are paying top dollar for legal defence so I don’t get this “mother’s union” of voices suddenly jumping to defend them. What do you make of the convicts wife working as a part-time receptionist at Joe Duffy motors while “earning” 300K from a Ukranian company. They’re an underhand, ignorant bunch who shat in their own nest when greed got the better of them.

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    Mute mr x
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:52 PM

    Anglo were crooks and broke all sorts of company law but there is whether people like it or not there is a case to be made that this was market manipulation in which case Sean Quinn may be entitled to compensation but this shall be for the courts to decide. I for one wouldn’t be shocked if he won the case against Anglo.
    But Eilish this bit;
    “If Anglo hadn’t cooked the books as they did nothing much would have gone wrong with the share value”
    If you honestly believe this then you are living in a fantasy land, Anglo would be bankrupt not because of sean quinn and cooking the books, Anglo is bankrupt because its business model in the long run was deeply flawed and relied far to heavily on property investment in overheated markets.
    AIB and BOI didnt cook the books ( that we know of) yet they went bust too.

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    Mute Chelseajoe
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:41 PM

    Sorry,Eileesh,but it’s patently and painfully obvious that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

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    Mute Theresa Daly
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:49 PM

    Eilish, just go away , Sean Quinn and family are crook’s. End of.

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    Mute CM
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:23 PM

    This notion that Quinn took money from his own companies to buy the Anglo shares is nonsense. He used share guarantees as collateral, which the Irish financial regulator approved. Elderfield later disagreed on who would have first call on the guarantees, but this case again has not been heard. Elderfield took 3 days to make the decision to toust Quinn and disallowed him his right to contest – by any stretch this was an exceptionally rash move and unheard of for a regulator to make such a dramatic move without any due diligence completed.
    It’s very easy to emotively say “He stole insurees money in investing in Anglo” but that’s grossly inaccurate.

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    Mute Charlie Bucket
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    Jul 27th 2012, 9:15 PM

    Good point Theresa ?? End of what exactly?

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:59 PM

    1stpoint. Drumm and Fitzpatrick were in shock as they would have to give full disclosure of the books having realised Sean quinns stake 2nd point.whoever was looking after the shares of Anglo should have alerted the CEO.that a predatory purchase was being made at 22% therefore could have closed down any further share issue.

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    Mute mr x
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    Jul 27th 2012, 5:43 PM

    Eilish thats not really accurate,
    1. They were in shock not because they’d have to ” give full disclosure of the books” they were in shock because they thought worst case scenario he might only hold 10% of Anglo, the fact that he had in excess of 20% through cfd’s and the ramifications for the Anglo share price was what shocked them.
    2. Your second point makes no sense who is this person “looking after the shares of Anglo” “to alert the CEO”? Quinn built up most of his shareholding through CFD’s which do not have to be disclosed to the market or registered anywhere. No one but Quinn and his advisors could have known he was doing this and to the extent he was.
    closing down any further share issue would have done nothing either as the volume of shares the market was already so high.

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 4:25 PM

    They don’t show u the books before u get a loan

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    Mute denism
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    Jul 27th 2012, 7:52 PM

    Sounds like ur on the Quinn payroll , deluded, Prichard.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 27th 2012, 9:29 PM

    Ha Ha
    People go on about Sean Quinns life style and greed.
    And Seanie Fitz is the one with the Villa in the Golden mile and the all year round suntan?
    And Drumm is the one buying expensive homes in the U.S?
    And Fingelton is swanning around the Mediterranean?
    The guards have to make appointments with these guys?
    Not to mention the Golden boys on the 200k a year NAMA Dole and their aircraft and art collections?

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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 11:36 PM

    The judge found against Quinn. What the rest of them may have done is irrelevant.

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    Mute Neil Molloy
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    Jul 27th 2012, 7:02 PM

    Would do the same myself.and so would most people if they’re honest

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    Mute Noel O'D
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:38 PM

    I look forward to the day that Quinn, Dunne, Seanie Fitzpatrick, other senior Anglo Bankers as well as the bankers in AIB and BOI who lied on the night of the bank guarantee are behind bars for a very very long time. Crooks the lot of them.

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    Mute Noel O'D
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    Jul 27th 2012, 8:44 PM

    Sorry meant to say Drumm not Dunne.

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    Mute Jim bob dee
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    Jul 28th 2012, 12:16 AM

    The bank is the taxpayer. Jesus wept!

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 27th 2012, 9:46 PM

    Sean Quinn’s arrogance?

    Ask Drumm, Fitz, IBRC, Fingers, our ”government” and NAMA and their pets about arrogance??

    Or ask some of the privately schooled, incapable, inbreeds presiding over this mess along with their wigged buddies??

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:29 PM

    Guilty under a corrupt system how good is that?

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    Mute Doc Benway
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:39 PM

    guilty, none the less.

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 7:18 PM

    He’s done what he can ,he s worked as he could , is this countryreduced to the voyeuristic lynching of a man ?when s it on should we bring our sandwiches

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jul 27th 2012, 10:06 PM

    What is your agenda, who are you working for?

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 6:26 PM

    Yes which is an established practice nothing unusual when being a predator in the stock market . The failing was Anglo not recognising such practice , hense the cowboy outfit they were .it could have been someone like say Richard Branson (read his life story) wanting in on the most successful bank of the decade so much was the s—- coming from Anglo and its auditors. Torture the entrepreneurs why don’t we. Great way of getting the economy back on its feet.

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 11:45 PM

    His angst is with the bank not the taxpayer and he believes the bank and the state have done him the gravest of injustices.

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 10:47 PM

    Why does everyone have to b accused of having an agenda .i don’t have one at all . Just think a man who took a chance did well in a few years because the banks had money to throw around.would have stayed good but for the property price collapse should not b put through this when it was the banking system let him. like the rest of us down. ,and that only happened because the Germans and French threw money at us as they did the Africa n south American countries .My agenda -don’t like seeing unfairness meeted out from instructions -it happened for too long -and just glad of the journal as an outlet for my frustration.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 27th 2012, 11:38 PM

    Don’t you think it is unfair that Quinn is hiding assets from the taxpayer?

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    Mute Clive Solas
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    Jul 28th 2012, 1:37 AM

    You have contributed about 10% of the posts on this thread and you have posted on every Quinn related article I’ve seen. Seems to me you do have an agenda, otherwise I find it odd that you’d champion the cause of a multi-billionaire who gambled his fortune, lost it, destroyed what he built, destroyed the livelihoods of his employees and now wants to renege on his loans so the tax-payer will foot the bill for him and his brood. Strange sort of underdog you’re supporting ther Ailish. Quinn’s not starving at the side of the road you know.

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    Mute Y.F.
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    Jul 28th 2012, 7:51 AM

    Clive ,
    There’s a bitchiness in your tone that is not needed…talking about comments above. I don’t think you’re seeing the full picture. Quinn was happy to pay back his debt and put forward a perfectly viable plan that was approved, however Anglo wanted him gone.Why did they not want to go with the 7 yr. plan? I believe you could call this a vendetta against Quinn as they seem to have been more interested in getting rid of him than getting the debts paid off. NOW their PR campaign is to make everyone think that they’re trying to retrieve assets, as best they can. There is no mention of this plan. He did not renege on his loans….he was robbed of the opportunity to repay them. You go with Anglo Clive……and all the propaganda!

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    Mute finbar m
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    Jul 28th 2012, 9:08 AM

    He has lied from the first day , how could any one trust this man ,, no wonder they turned down his seven year plan

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    Mute Charlie Bucket
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    Jul 28th 2012, 9:52 AM

    ‘First Day’? As in the first day he started to bulid up his very successful businesses resulting in thousands of jobs, paying thousands of mortgages???

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    Mute Eilish Deegan
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    Jul 27th 2012, 10:49 PM

    Instutions third last line .

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    Mute Tom Leddy
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    Jul 27th 2012, 10:52 PM

    Any reason my 2 comments have been removed?

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