Sinn Féin Hands Anglo Irish Recordings To Gardaí

Sinn Féin has handed a copy of secret recordings of Anglo Irish officials to gardaí and the Central Bank.

Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty told the Dáil this morning that his party had been anonymously sent a copy of more secret recordings involving senior Anglo officials.

The majority of these recordings are not currently in the public domain and cover the period between February and September 2008.

Mr Doherty said: "Within the last number of weeks Sinn Féin was anonymously sent a copy of secret recordings involving senior Anglo officials. The majority of these recordings are not currently in the public domain and cover the period between February and September 2008.

"On the advice of Senior Counsel, we have taken the decision not to release the tapes at this time. We have made them available to the Gardaí and the Governor of the Central Bank. We have also retained a copy with my solicitor with a view to publishing them at a future date, as the publication of these secret conversations are in the public interest."

Mr Doherty called on the government to establish a banking inquiry into the Anglo-Irish scandal.

"There is a public demand for truth," he said.

"People want to know what was going within the banks and the contact between senior bankers and the Fianna Fáil government in the run up to the guarantee.

"It has always been my view that the Fianna Fáil government had more information in relation to the bank prior to the guarantee than they have previously disclosed."

(IT/JP)