Bankrupt billionaire Seán Quinn has made an emotional speech in front of thousands of supporters.
The Fermanagh businessman appeared at a rally in Ballyconnell in County Cavan on Sunday night flanked by leading GAA figures including Tyrone boss Mickey Harte, former Armagh manager Joe Kernan, and former Meath manager Seán Boylan, as well as former Meath football All-Star Colm O'Rourke.
Also joining the Quinn family was well-known Fermanagh priest, Fr. Brian D'Arcy.
Last month, a judge found that Mr. Quinn, his son, Seán Quinn Jr. and a nephew, Peter Darragh Quinn, hid millions in assets from the bank.
Mr. Quinn Jr. and Peter Darragh Quinn were given three-month jail terms by a judge in Dublin. Seán Quinn Jr. is currently serving his sentence in Mountjoy jail in Dublin, while his cousin Peter Darragh Quinn has yet to present himself to the authorities in the Irish capital. He was photographed at the weekend as a spectator at a GAA game in Fermanagh.
Seán Quinn Sr. avoided jail but was given three months to cooperate with the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IRBC) - formerly the Anglo Irish Bank.
During emotional scenes on Sunday, Seán Quinn thanked the huge crowd for its support. The Quinns are held in high regard in Fermanagh,
Cavan and Leitrim for creating hundreds of jobs in the local area. Those in attendance were calling for the former Anglo Irish Bank to seek the suspension of contempt orders issued against the Quinn family.
A tearful Mr. Quinn said: "There's a story told that's not a true story, but hopefully the more intelligent people from the country, you people, understand what the position was, and is, that we always paid our way."
Both Seán Quinn Jr. and Peter Darragh Quinn were sentenced to 90 days in Mountjoy prison for their contempt of previous High Court orders
demanding that the family stop any actions which could move its overseas assets beyond the reach of IBRC, to whom the bankrupt Quinn group owe £2 billion or €2.3 billion.
In an interview with the BBC last week, Seán Quinn Sr. said: "I created a lot of employment and wealth in this region.
"To take that away from me unlawfully, I feel I would be sidestepping my responsibility by not defending myself.
"I feel an obligation to defend my principles, my family and my region from the injustice that had been done."
Asked if he felt there was a desire to see him behind bars, Mr. Quinn replied: "I do."
Sunday's rally took place under the auspices of a group dubbing themselves "Concerned Irish Citizens."
Some GAA members insisted they were at the rally in a "personal capacity".
Speaking of nephew Peter Darragh Quinn, Sean Quinn Sr. told the rally: "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."
Gardí have no power to detain Quinn if he remains over the border in the North.
