Lenihan accused of trying to avoid any responsibility for financial crisis

FORMER Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was accused of trying to escape taking responsibility for the banking crisis as he alleged the European Central Bank (ECB) pushed or “bounced” Ireland into seeking a bailout.

Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton said Mr Lenihan was trying to absolve himself from the financial crash after an interview in which he claimed the ECB had formed the view that “Ireland needed to be totally nailed down”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny hinted that Mr Lenihan’s comments about the last government’s relationship with Frankfurt, where the bank is based, warranted further investigation.