President hails 'important' new play on bank guarantee

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina last night attended a performance of ’Guaranteed!’, a new play about the night of the bank guarantee.

Written by journalist and documentary-maker Colin Murphy and directed by Conall Morrison, the dramatisation of events leading to the decision taken on the night of September 29, 2008 is based on documentary sources.

Mr Higgins warmly applauded the production at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr Higgins said: “I think it’s a very good play, a very important play, a very fine treatment of a complex topic. I think Colin Murphy has served us all very well.

“I think people should come and view it. It’s very, very good.”

Mr Higgins stayed to listen to a question and answer session involving People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett who represents Dun Laoghaire, economist Constantin Gurdgiev and the playwright.

In the play, the actor playing the part of then minister for finance Brian Lenihan argues for the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank, while the actor in the role of then taoiseach Brian Cowen opposes such a move.

The play’s run continues in Ballymun tonight.