Lenihan expresses 'frustration' at not yet seeing bankers in jail

MINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan last night said he was “frustrated” that bankers had not yet been prosecuted.

Mr Lenihan was responding to a question during an RTÉ Prime Timeinterview about when there would be answers on the ongoing investigation into Anglo Irish Bank.

The investigation by gardaí and the Director for Corporate Enforcement into scandals at the bank continues.

Comments in the Dáil by Eamon Gilmore that Bernie Madoff was arrested in New York around the time that the scandals in Anglo Irish Bank emerged and has since been jailed for 150 years were also put to Mr Lenihan.

“I am as frustrated as every citizen in this country is that we are not seeing bankers in jail yet,” he said.

Mr Lenihan said that the matter had to be investigated under the legal system and such delays took place in the UK and France, which had similar legal systems. “This is a serious investigation in which I believe we need results.”

Mr Lenihan also outlined the “huge investigation” which was under way under the Garda Commissioner’s supervision.

“A large number of gardaí have been assigned to it. Hundreds of statements have been taken. Cross-jurisdiction co-operation is taking place with the United Kingdom authorities in relation to this.

However he said he was unable to speed up the prosecution. “I can’t interfere in prosecution any more than I can ring a local Garda station and suggest what they should do,” he said.