BANKERS INVOLVED in recent financial scandals will be prosecuted, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has predicted.
In a recorded interview to be broadcast tomorrow morning on the new 4FM radio station, Mr Ahern said some bankers were in “big trouble”.
Commenting on their predicament, he noted: “I got into trouble over a pittance.”
The interview is part of the Davis on 4 programme between 10am and noon.
Mr Ahern forecast an economic upturn in two years, saying the economy was “basically strong in most areas”.
“Financially, it might continue to be difficult because there are big issues to deal with, but I honestly think we’ll start going back into positive growth in about a two-year period.”
He said: “I think this year it will continue to be an extremely difficult year.
“Unemployment will continue to rise this year. We could hit 14 per cent or thereabouts at the end of the year.
“I wish I didn’t have to say that, but that’s a reality.
“It’s going to be tough on business. It’s going to be tough on people. 2010, I think Obama and the administration will start the green shoots.”
He added that, in “two years at most we’ll be on the turn”.
Forecasting legal actions against bankers, Mr Ahern told interviewer Derek Davis: “It’s not a question of should they be. I think the inquiries are ongoing now and on the face of it – I don’t have all the facts and figures, but on the face of it – I think some of them are in big trouble.
“I think some of them will be in big problems. You’re talking about big money.
“I got into trouble over a pittance, and we’re talking about these people with hundreds of millions and it will be interesting to see what happens.”
On the former “Galway tent” set up by his party at the annual race meeting, Mr Ahern said: “That was all overplayed. The fact is it was a bit of fun and there were people of all walks of life, but people focus in on a half-dozen heads.”
Noting that it was the 11th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement this weekend, Mr Ahern said there was a “small band” of republican dissidents intent on causing trouble.
“You only, unfortunately, require a small band of people who have an evil mind, who will continue to try to upset the progress that’s been made.”
On a personal level, when asked if politics wrecked his marriage, he replied: “Partly so. As I’ve said lots of times, it was my fault as much as anything else but, I mean, I was a workaholic. I think anyone who’s ever worked with me knows that.
“There’s other people in politics who get the balance right. I probably didn’t and that’s life.
“Miriam and I are very good friends and we keep in touch and obviously with the grandchildren and the two girls, it keep us close.”
Asked if there was “any special woman in your life at the moment”, he quipped: “Lots of them. I love all women.”
Refusing to be drawn on his personal life, he said: “Personal life is personal, you know that.”
The former taoiseach suffered a broken leg some months ago and he said this weekend: “I’m in good form; I could be a bit better with the leg. The fracture held up very well but the ligaments are slow, so I’m still hopping a little bit.”