QUINN GROUP chief executive Paul O’Brien and two other senior executives at the company have had private security guards assigned to them, such has been the concern for their safety in recent months.
The three executives have also had CCTV systems installed in their homes and have taken advice from the Garda on how to improve safety around themselves and their families.
The precautions have come after months of attacks against Quinn Group properties and threats to staff from people opposed to the new management regime running the company since it went into receivership.
The arson attack on Mr O’Brien’s home on Monday night was captured on CCTV. The film shows a lone attacker with his face covered by a scarf walking up to the front of the O’Brien family home carrying a container.
He pours accelerant liquid over two vehicles outside and sets one of them alight. The masked attacker is seen walking around the outside of the house for a period of minutes before the incident and is on film for about 20 minutes in what sources said seemed a “brazen” manner.
It is understood Mr O’Brien and his two colleagues have also been receiving protection from a private security firm since taking up their positions in the Quinn Group.
The security has involved a private company maintaining a high visibility presence outside the three executives’ homes, supported by private patrol vehicles driving around the areas where the houses are situated.
Reliable sources said these patrols and static security were withdrawn about three weeks ago.
The same sources believe that whoever carried out the arson attack may have kept Mr O’Brien and his two colleagues under surveillance for some time and when their security was withdrawn,they may have seen their opportunity to strike.