The referendum to reverse the Abbeylara judgment, if passed, is likely to lead to a banking inquiry. The temptation for cheap point-scoring will have to be resisted, writes Michael Clifford

THE smoking gun lying next to the corpse of the Irish economy passed through many hands – but the dominant fingerprints on it are those belonging to Mr B Cowen.

WHEN Brian Cowen delivered a major speech running to more than 7,000 words on the causes of the banking crisis last month, the opposition smelled a rat.