Denis O'Brien: I did not run SiteServ sale; was 'merely the buyer'

SiteServ owner Denis O'Brien has said he was not in control of the sale process when he was buying the construction company from IBRC, at a loss to the taxpayer of €100m.

Mr O'Brien said he was "merely the buyer" and was not aware of what was happening between the Department of Finance and IBRC at the time.

He said since his company took over the company, employee numbers and revenues have doubled.

He also said would be happy to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on the issue if he is asked.

Meanwhile, new details have emerged about the tensions between the Department of Finance and IBRC over a number of deals made by the former Anglo Irish Bank.

Freedom of Information documents reveal that the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan was so concerned that he said he was not confident of reporting to the Dáil on IBRC's affairs.

In further news on the SiteServ sale, former IBRC CEO Mike Aynsley hit out at Department of Finance officials over criticism of him in Freedom of Information documents released to TD Catherine Murphy.

In a letter to the Finance Minister, lawyers for Mr Aynsley say he was subjected to a "highly personalised vilification".

It says the documents were "partial, selective" and were designed to support the "agenda" of officials in the Department, who were "opposed to the independent governance" of IBRC.

The former Chairman of IBRC Alan Dukes is expected to comment on the controversy at a press conference this afternoon.