UP TO 2,000 people gathered in Leitrim yesterday to support Seán Quinn as he opened the Ballinamore Family Festival.

The former billionaire told the crowd that his family would continue in its search for justice until their names were cleared.

“We have not only a right but an obligation to make sure that that happens,” he said, adding that he thinks he will be able to stand on the same stage in two or three years time “vindicated”.

The 66-year-old, who spent nine weeks in jail earlier this year after being held in contempt of court, was invited by the organising committee to make a speech and open the festival.

He used the opportunity to address his current economic and legal situation. Although he has admitted that he had made mistakes, apologising for his links to Anglo Irish Bank, he was also highly critical of the failed institution and the current and previous administrations.

During the 20-minute address, Quinn accused the government of being “anti-Seán Quinn”, claiming it had been “sold a pup”.

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“They are stuck in a hole and they don’t know how to get out of it,” he told the cheering crowd, adding that they were lacking guts, knowledge, common sense and ability to say an injustice had been done.