Cowen denies ‘agenda’ in FitzPatrick contacts

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has denied doing anything wrong in previously undisclosed contacts with former Anglo boss Seán FitzPatrick, insisting there was “no hidden or secret agenda”.

Mr Cowen was forced to issue a statement last night after it emerged he had played golf and had dinner with Mr FitzPatrick in July 2008, just two months before the Government bailed out the bank.

It also emerged Mr FitzPatrick had telephoned him several months earlier, in March 2008, to alert him to the share crisis at Anglo and the problems created by businessman Seán Quinn’s massive stake in the bank.