Shatter calls on Drumm to speak with investigators

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has weighed into the Anglo Tapes controversy by taking a swipe at former bank chief David Drumm over his claims he was being made a scapegoat.

Mr Shatter urged Mr Drumm, who is living in the US, to co-operate with investigators and hit out at the “contempt” displayed in the tapes for the banking system and the country.

Mr Drumm entered the foray at the weekend by saying he would no longer allow himself to be made a scapegoat for the banking crisis as a result of a “drip feed” of phone recordings at Anglo Irish Bank in 2008.

Responding yesterday, Mr Shatter said: “I do notice that Mr Drumm, from the Unites States, is now protesting at the coverage that is taking place within the Irish media. I do believe he should co-operate with An Garda Síochána as he has been requested to do and make himself available to answer any questions that remain to be answered in the context of the investigation that is taking place.”

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has also said Mr Drumm must return from the US to face questioning.

“I think that David Drumm should make a statement that he is prepared to return from America and co-operate with the inquiry,” he said. “I think the inquiry will ask him to return and I think that it would be appropriate that if he wants to say something to set the record, as he sees it, straight, well then the place to do it is at the forthcoming inquiry.”

The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Director of Corporate Enforcement, which have carried out the mammoth investigation into Anglo, have not been able to speak to Mr Drumm. Mr Shatter said he believed it was “very important” there was an inquiry in the banking disaster. “Some of the information that did appear in the public domain in the last two and a half weeks or so has given a very interesting insight in to the mind-set of some of the individuals in Anglo Irish.

“I think their contempt for both the financial regulatory system, the lack of concern as to how their conduct might impact generally on people throughout the country, on the country itself, on its reputation, on our banking system.

“Quite clearly, they had an approach that has annoyed substantially and shocked many people.”

He pointed out that three people were presently before the courts in relation to the Anglo investigation.

“The gardaí have undertaken a very, very substantial investigation. There are files presently with the DPP. I am conscious some years ago someone in politics was greatly applauded on commenting on an individual who was heading in to the courts on a matter and that comment resulted in the criminal prosecution not successfully prosecuted.”

Mr Shatter was speaking at the launch of a guidelines for victims about making an impact statement for the courts. Speaking at the launch, the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said victim impact statements were very important for both victims and the courts.

The guide was jointly produced by the Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the DPP.

* Full guide at garda.ie; victimsofcrimeoffice.ie or dpp.ie