Lenihan: No role in Anglo decision to loan Carroll €68m

ANGLO Irish Bank’s decision to advance €68 million to Liam Carroll’s struggling Zoe Group to finish the bank’s new headquarters in Dublin was made before the bank was nationalised, according to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time, the finance minister said he understood public anger that the bank, which is now fully owned by the taxpayer, was willing to advance such a large amount of money to the developer when banks were refusing to lend to many small businesses and other borrowers.

However, he said it was not a decision made by him but rather one which the bank made before it was nationalised in January of this year.