Panama Papers: Frank Flannery unaware of link to account

Former Fine Gael strategist Frank Flannery has denied any knowledge of links between him and an off-shore British Virgin Islands account, saying he left the exact details of his financial deals up to his now deceased accountant.

Mr Flannery made the claim as he confirmed he is seeking all Panama files records relating to him this week and alleged the furore has seen him put “on the same level as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin”.

Details revealed in the more than 11.5m records obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists show a British Virgin Islands company pledged £250,000 in a Jersey bank account as security for a mortgage taken out by Mr Flannery and his wife in 1996.