I don’t think he was jailed for importing garlic, but rather he was actually jailed for a €1.6 million tax evasion – or “grave” and “huge” tax evasion scheme as the judge said.

Funny that! Remind us all again how much Quin & Family cost the tax payer? The garlic man’s “grave and huge” tax evasion is peanuts or even garlicy peanuts (yuk) compared to the damage caused by the ‘Gomfather’ Also how much did TD Wallace evade? Funny how his tax evasion was ok, fine old chap you carry on taking tax payers money but the garlic man was sent down. Double standards as usual in the banana republic!

Ed, Sean Quinn did not cost the taxpayer anything. It was the fact that the banks were nationalized that cost the taxpayer PLUS the fact that Quinns offer of 2.8 billion to the State was thrown in his face in favour of a strategy that will cost us billions. The truth will emerge and many people will be dismayed at how they were conned by Anglo propaganda.

And your point is .

I’d like to know what is done in the US, UK, Australia with prisoner release at Christmas. Is it just an Irish thing?

I suspect its done here for financial reasons, less prisioners may mean less prison officers required over the Xmas period.

I’m not sure all that many prisoners do get released – in 2011 160 prisoners were granted temporary release over Christmas. 87 prisoners in Northern Ireland got temporary release at the same time – a higher rate of release, per number of prisoners.

Im bwian and so is my wife

Eug, you are wrong on so many levels. It is impossible for the Quinns to get the assets back. After all, Kenny and Hayes could not get them back so how can the Quinns. Secondly, it is farcical and an unnecessary squandering of taxpayers money that the contempt and all the other side shows are running when the legitimacy of the alleged debt of 2.3 billion has yet to be rules on in the big case. When is common sense going ot prevail?

It’s quite the norm to let inmates out for a few days over xmas. Those who are inside for non threatening offences in low security prisons. This has always been the case.

I don’t like Quinn at all. It’s laughable the way the Cavan people support him.
But I’ve no gripe with him getting a few days out over Xmas. A lot of lags get out.

Got no issue with him being released over Christmas to be honest.

i can’t even get 3 days of work over Christmas

Thats SOME cavan people ManOnTheStreet, lets not generalise.

Deirdre I’m absolutely amazed how you think Sean Quinn shouldn’t be released have you not got an ounce of compassion in your body? He is no danger to society what so ever i wonder did you comment on the thread with the rapist being released for 3 days also over Xmas i bet you didn’t!!!

Oliver , I believe this country justice system is a total farse wen child murders or complists walk free or wen a woman is murdered and her killer gets 3 yrs .. I believe u should serve ur time no matter wat , that my opinion we all have them .. I dont really care wat happens to him to be honest but I’m sick of money talking in this country ,, as u said rapists paying off victims or walking free it just wrong however u look at it …

If he did his time “like everyone else”, he’d be out already. A non-violent first time offender sentenced to less than three months? If he wasn’t as high profile, he would quite literally have been out inside a week.

Of course, it’s all because of the subhuman conditions and massive overcrowding in our prisons but I don’t see any government getting elected on foot of promises to spend a fortune on Thornton Hall.

Quinn doing time
as Corrupt/Criminal
Bankers
Developers
Regulators
Auditors
Solicitors
Judges
Senior Civil Servants
Politicians
Continue to squander billions of taxpayers money to cover each others A**es.

Not to mention their crony, lapdog PR company/Media accomplices.

Rapists and murderers do not get out for Christmas. Only low risk offenders do.

Google Thomas O’Neill

Why yes for funerals then?

Aiden, he did not commit a crime. THis is a civil matter.

Enjoy your 3 days of freedom Sean, I reckon you’ll be spending a lot more time in prison on 2013!

Based on what Ciaran?

I agree with you,

And I disagree with compassionate leave from prison for Christmas. A funeral is one thing, they should be out in cuffs at the funeral, but letting someone out for Christmas is a bit much.

But since we do let prisoners out for Christmas, I think it’d be vindictive to deny Quinn this privilege just because of his profile. I’d rather see his whole family join him in Mountjoy for the next 5 Christmases instead, but there you go. The rules are there for prisoners who behave themselves, and we can presume that Quinn is behaving himself in prison and not shanking other inmates

And then that would lead Sean to take the system to court for singling him out and making an example of him. One which he would probably win if he were the only one not to be let out. I would not like to see Sean winning a court battle. so let him out for a few days. At least he got deny’d being let out for the christening.

If it is all the the Quinn workforce here today then he must have a been a decent enough employer.

Hav’nt you heard? The Quinn Group is now on its knees and is a sinking ship since current management destroyed the company.

Keego, You can view Quinn’s release any way you like. One could argue that the contempt that you have just shown in this comment is quite ‘disgusting’ also.

Marion, where have you been. Sean Quinn was bankrupted by Anglo.

Marlon,
I don’t see how you could identify this in relation to ‘how the wealthy are rewarded’?? ….and the poor are taken advantage of. Maybe you’re writing under the wrong thread?

Hey RF…

The reward for Seanie… Is that he is getting special treatment. He’s getting out of jail to spend time with his family over Christmas. He broke the judicial laws by not complying with their request. This consideration was only given because of his wealth and his name. If I or a person of even a lower economic situation were to ignore a mandate of the courts… They wouldn’t consider letting me 9ut of prison until I complied with the order.

Marion, James Reilly and an awful lot more did not comply with court orders and they did not end up in jail. Sean Quinn has been treated very harshly and in time his good name will be vindicated.

Marlon,
So you have grievance over Quinn getting out, on the basis that he was wealthy once upon a time?How does this play out with convicted rapists who are being released for 10 nights over the holidays? I personally would prefer to see a man who has tried to protect what is his, until it is proven otherwise, get out for 3 nights over Christmas, than a man/men who have taken part in horrific gang rape scenarios. If I had any qualms, it would be with the rapist, who, one would assume, is a much bigger threat to society. I don’t think it’s a class/wealth divide issue

Irish Mule, Quinn did not scam billions from any country. In fact, he did the opposite. HE WAS SCAMMED by a bank that was regulated by the Financial Regulator and supervised by the Government. He made his investments in Anglo based on accounts that we now know were cooked. but HE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS WOULD NOT BE BURDENED AND HE OFFERED 2.8 BILLION OT THE STATE DESPITE THE FACT THAT 2.3 OF THAT WAS ADVANCED ILLEGALLY FOR MARKET MANIPULATION.
That offer was thrown in his face. You should be asking the questions”Why did that happen” instead of ranting on about something that you clearly have been conned by Angl0o propaganda on. Happy Christmas.

Merry Christmas Frank and hope Santa lifts that big chip off your shoulder and brings you a dose of reality. You need it.

He lives in Cavan. and he went to Mountjoy voluntarily. Have you forgotten that?

“He lives in Cavan”

Sez you.

Why did he claim to be a resident of Northern Ireland and file for bankruptcy in Belfast?