Honohan: I did not betray the state over bailout

UNDER-FIRE Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan has denied he betrayed the national interest during the bailout deal negotiations.

Hitting back at stinging criticism from leading economist Morgan Kelly, the finance chief said he wanted to “nail” the claim he was not “playing for Ireland” due to his dual role on the ruling council of the European Central Bank.

Mr Kelly triggered a far- reaching debate with shock analysis that the country’s debts would hit €250bn by 2014 and thus provoke a painful and prolonged national bankruptcy unless it abandoned the EU/IMF deal.