Developer uses Nazi phrase in attack on Nama

Ex-justice minister Alan Shatter has insisted the banking inquiry takes action against one of Ireland’s most notable boom-time developers after he used the reviled Nazi concentration camp phrase — “work brings freedom” — to underline claims Nama had infringed on his “human rights”.

Mr Shatter, who is Jewish, said it was beyond his personal comprehension why anyone would use the phrase in such a context, after Johnny Ronan used it in a statement to the Oireachtas banking inquiry.

In a 28-page written statement to the cross-party group published yesterday, Mr Ronan repeatedly hit out at how Nama’s alleged “short-sighted” approach had cost taxpayers billions of euro in lost revenue and trampled on the “constitutional” rights of developers.