Cowen accused of ‘whitewash’ over BoI boss’s €1.5m top-up

THE Taoiseach was accused of presiding over an “utter whitewash” after insisting a €1.5m pension top-up for Bank of Ireland chief Richie Boucher did not bust the Government’s pay cap.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny branded the claim “outrageous” as Brian Cowen asserted the financial top-up was not an enhancement for the part-nationalised bank’s chief executive.

Mr Kenny said the move was an “insult” to the people of Ireland and part of a wider Government “cover-up” regarding the banking crisis as he demanded ministers invoke the legislation guaranteeing the banks to revoke the payment.