By Dearbhail McDonald, Belfast Telegraph

A secret donor has offered £400,000 to help fund Sean Quinn’s family in their legal action against the former Anglo Irish Bank.

The Quinn family confirmed there had been “multiple offers of assistance” and said they were “exploring all options”, including offers of financial support.

They are now representing themselves in a host of legal actions with the IBRC (formerly Anglo) after parting ways with their legal team.

The family are suing the bank for alleged fraud, claiming more than £1.6bn worth of loans given to them by the bank are unlawful because they were used to prop up Anglo’s collapsing share price.

Bankrupt Fermanagh businessman Mr Quinn is himself a defendant in the legal action brought by his family after being joined in the case by the IBRC. The Quinn family’s bank accounts have been frozen by the courts and receivers have been appointed over their global assets — leaving them with no control over their financial affairs or access to millions the bank believes they have stashed away.

The family, who are allowed to apply to the courts to release money for legal representation, deny they are sitting on a “pot of gold”.

In a statement, the Quinn family said they were “absolutely determined” to proceed to trial with the main case against Anglo — even if this means they have to represent themselves.

Now, donors have emerged to ensure the Quinn family’s case against the IBRC goes ahead.

The identity of the alleged £400,000 donor is not known.

But the existence of the donor was revealed at a recent committee meeting of Concerned Irish Citizens (CIC), a local lobby group formed to support the Quinn family. The group, which met last night, has claimed that the group has been inundated with offers of financial support to help fund a legal action against the IBRC.

CIC has moved to quell suggestions that people attending a planned second rally in Ballyconnell on Sunday will be charged or that buckets will be passed around at the event to raise money.

“A lot of people have come forward to offer their financial support, said CIC’s Patricia Gilheany.

The names of prominent speakers from the business and community world who will address the rally will be revealed today.
For more on this story go to: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/secret-donors-400000-offer-to-aid-sean-quinn-family-in-legal-battle-16210873.html#ixzz26SDYvqNu