Lenihan wanted to burn bondholders and rebrand Anglo as 'An Banc Nua', inquiry told

Former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan asked Europe to rubber-stamp plans to save Anglo Irish Bank, his former special advisor has said.

Alan Ahearne, Mr Lenihan's right-hand man at the height of the financial crisis, said his ex-boss was "open-minded" about a plea from Anglo chiefs to give the lender a makeover rather than shut it down.