People ‘advised’ to open bogus accounts

THE number of bogus non-resident bank accounts opened in Ireland is much higher than originally estimated, according to a former bank official who encouraged customers to participate in offshore scams.

It also emerged a number of officials have been forced to take early retirement because of threats and stress.

Conor O’Mahony, a former assistant manager with the AIB in Killorglin, Co Kerry, said yesterday he, along with many other bank officials around the country, actively encouraged customers to open bogus accounts.