Lenihan name was ‘sullied’ by Trichet

The family of Brian Lenihan say his name has been “sullied” by comments made by former European Central Bank president Jean Claude Trichet about events leading up the infamous bank guarantee.

Phone records of the late finance minister may now be examined by the banking inquiry to ascertain if Mr Trichet or his officials did or did not call Mr Lenihan and warn him to save the banks “at all costs”.

The disagreement comes as the inquiry prepares to hear from more bank bosses this week about the night the Fianna Fáil-led Government decided on the blanket guarantee. Mr Trichet last week denied he had telephoned Mr Lenihan on September 20, 2008, and warned him to save the banks “at all costs”, a claim the minister made previously on television.