DONEGAL’S assistant coach Rory Gallagher has spoken about the reasons why he spoke on Sunday evening at a rally in support of former billionaire Sean Quinn.
Up to 8,000 people cheered when Gallagher, a Fermanagh native, was introduced to them in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, as the man who helped to take Sam Maguire to Donegal last month.
And Killybegs-based Rory revealed he has been a personal friend of jailed Sean Quinn Jnr for almost two decades.
“There are two reasons why I’m here,” he told the crowd which had gathered to show support for Sean Quinn Snr, his wife and daughters.
“Firstly I have been friends with Sean Junr for 18 or 19 years. We were friends during our time in under-age football and then playing club football together in Fermanagh and later in Dublin,” said Rory.
“Sean Jnr is very loyal and honest. when you weren’t doing well on a football field he wasn’t afraid to tell you. He was honest. He didn’t say you were unlucky. He told you straight. And he is loyal, very loyal.
“I don’t know the Quinn girls that well, but I know their father. They are honest people, they are ordinary people and they are loyal.”
The GAA coach went on: “At this stage people have their own views about what went on but from the crowd here we all know
the Quinns were treated very harshly and very unfairly.
“And what they are looking for now is justice and a fair hearing and I support them in that.”
The crowd was also addressed by Tyrone manager Mickey Harte as well as Peter Quinn Snr.
His brother Sean Quinn Snr could be jailed for contempt later this week.
Mr Gallagher sat alongside Sean Quinn Snr throughout the rally which heard calls for the Quinn Group of businesses to be returned “to their rightful owners.”
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