Lenihan was 'more than able' to punch Drumm back

Former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan would have been "more than able" to punch Anglo boss David Drumm back, his aunt Mary O'Rourke has said today.

The former Fianna Fáil Minister was reacting to Anglo tapes in which Mr Drumm said he would be willing to punch the now deceased Mr Lenihan in a bid to secure funding for the distressed lender.

The remark was made in a conversation with the head of Treasury John Bowe in 2008.

Ms O'Rourke said that she is sure that her nephew would have been able to defend himself from Mr Drumm.

"I don't know the physique of Mr Drumm," she said. "I never met him, so I cannot tell you.

"But if there was to be, or if it was just metaphysical talk, or allegorical kind of talk, I don't know, but Brian would be more than able were a punch back needed.

"But I guess that is what I would call boastful schoolboy locker stuff - 'I'd give him a punch', you know, 'Me, big me, I'd give him a punch'.".