IRISH CITIZENS in Ireland and around the world have reacted with anger and rage following the exposure of secret recordings which reveal how top executives at Anglo Irish Bank hoodwinked the Government into an £8 billion bailout.
Social networking websites hummed with indignation with the story dominating news headlines in Ireland and internationally.
The story, broken by The Irish Independent, reveals how Anglo Bank boss David Drumm, laughed about “abusing” the bank guarantee in late 2008, in order to obtain big deposits from countries including Britain and Germany.
The transcript shows that when warned to be careful by the Directory of the Treasury, John Bow, Mr Drumm replied:
“Setting us up by giving us money, I don’t mind being set up that way,” before adding: “Stick the fingers up.”
He continued: “Look they went around the f***in Union Jack tied tightly around them like a jumpsuit and grabbed all the deposits and where was out f***in Minister for Finance then.”
Britain’s leading broadsheets have been quick to jump on the story, with a headline in the Financial Times reading: “Ireland should lift lid on banking crisis with an inquiry.”
While both the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian reported that Anglo had “hoodwinked” the Irish Government into the bailout.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised an inquiry and said: "Believe you me I understand the rage and the anger of so many people who have been affected by all of this."
Among the comments many Irish citizens have posted on the Journal.ie, David Walsh wrote: “These people are traitors to the state and should be tried as traitors.
"They lied and lured the inept government of the time and had the audacity to laugh about it.
"It’s not their children that have to board the planes out of the country to find work and leave heartbroken parents behind. I’m sure the bastards are still laughing at us.”
While Sarah Sue said: “Maybe now that the world is watching our politicians might grow a spine and take some type of action. Hard to fathom that these guys received million euro plus bonuses after all of this, boils my blood.”
