Newspapers deny role in fuelling property boom

Two leading national newspapers have rejected claims they bought into the property boom, despite one purchasing a property website for €40m and another holding a “glittering” award gala for developers.

The former editors of the Irish Times and Irish Independent staunchly defended their organisations from the criticism at the latest Oireachtas banking inquiry meeting yesterday.

Speaking to the cross-party group, the Irish Times’ former editor Geraldine Kennedy and former managing director Maeve Donovan said the newspaper highlighted the risk of a property crash.