Third Anglo director at Cowen’s post-golf dinner

ANOTHER Anglo director was present at Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s controversial post-golf dinner with Seán FitzPatrick in July 2008, but Mr Cowen insists not a word was spoken about the bank’s declining fortunes.

Instead, Mr Cowen said he sought the counsel of Mr FitzPatrick and the others present on how to combat the recession.

In a statement last night, one of those present at the dinner, economist and Indecon managing partner Alan Gray said at no point was there any discussion of banking issues or of Anglo Irish Bank. He said the discussion focused “exclusively on initiatives to encourage new small indigenous firms, and measures to attract additional investment to Ireland and other responses to unemployment”.