Bust billionaire Sean Quinn is home in time for Christmas – and the christening of his beloved granddaughter.

Once Ireland’s richest man, Quinn will now enjoy his turkey as a free man, but only for three days.
The disgraced entrepreneur was released in Christmas Eve morning but will be back in Mountjoy on Thursday.

Currently serving nine weeks in prison for contempt of court, the 66-year-old was granted temporary compassionate release from Mountjoy prison.

He will now get to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day with his family.

Quinn will also be able to attend the christening of his granddaughter Orna in Cavan, which was postponed on Sunday.

The Irish Independent reports that family letters to Mountjoy prison authorities and the State pleading for his release included an impassioned plea on behalf of his wife, Patricia.

She said she could not bear to be separated from her husband at Christmas after almost four decades together.

Sources close to the family have suggested that the christening may have been postponed in order to allow Mr Quinn to attend.

The paper also reports that his daughter Ciara Quinn told Mountjoy governor Ned Whelan in a letter that the birth of her daughter in August was “the only good in my life over the past 19 months.” She added: “Not having my father at the christening will leave a large void in the ceremony and a dark cloud over the entire day.”