Nama deal winner ‘paid for access’ to Michael Noonan

The winner of the controversial multibillion euro Project Eagle Nama deal paid two firms heavily involved in a previous bid £15m for help “accessing” Finance Minister Michael Noonan and “the Northern Ireland executive”.

Cerberus chief operating officer Mark Neporent made the claim during a detailed Dáil public accounts committee meeting in which he also said the money was provided to access debtor information giving it an advantage over rival bids.

Speaking to the PAC, Mr Neporent confirmed that his company received “unsolicited” contact from US legal firm Brown Rudnick and Belfast legal firm Tughan’s on March 14, 2014, asking it for stg£15m in return for help in bidding for Nama’s Northern Ireland property portfolio.