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Updated: 17.40
A NAMA OFFICIAL took cash-in-hand bribes from a company under its control, it has been alleged.
Speaking during leaders’ questions in the Dáil today, Mick Wallace TD claimed a Nama debtor was able to regain control of its business by paying off an official.
“I know of a construction company who wanted exit out of Nama, so they asked the manager of the portfolio [if this] could happen,” he said.
The official, Wallace said, requested €15,000 in cash in exchange – to be paid in a bag.
[The company] delivered the money and a few weeks later [the official] demanded the same again. They duly obliged and all was sorted.
Later in the day, Wallace directly put a number of questions to the government on the issue:
Isle of Man payment
Wallace also defended claims he raised in the Dáil two weeks ago that money paid into an Isle of Man account after the sale of Nama’s Northern Ireland portfolio had been “earmarked for a Northern Ireland politician or political party”.
An independent audit of a law firm involved in the sale found that €9.8 million (£7 million) had been diverted into the account.
Ian Coulter, the solicitor at the centre of the allegation, has since denied that any politician received payment for the deal.
Wallace contested this, saying his source had confirmed the claim again today.
I decided to contact my sources this morning and ask them to what degree of certainty they could stand over the involvement of a particular politician. The reply: ‘Is 100% enough?’
Speaking today, Wallace also claimed that Nama was aware of the alleged transaction since January.
The chair of Nama, Frank Daly, told the Public Accounts Committee last week that it had no knowledge of the payment.
Investigation
In a statement, Nama said it would ask the Garda Commissioner to investigate claims of bribes being sought or paid to officials.
The allegation, if not investigated as a matter of urgency, casts a shadow over all NAMA officers and, accordingly, we will ask that the Deputy’s allegation, including any evidence that he may claim to possess, be investigated as a matter of urgency.
The spokesperson added that any party with evidence of criminal wrongdoing is legally obliged to refer it to the attention of gardaí under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act 2011.
Nama also said it was “categorically false and incorrect” to claim that it was aware of a payment made to an Isle of Man account in January.
“Nama has already confirmed that the first it know of this payment which, it is alleged, was connected to individuals in Northern Ireland, was two weeks ago following news reports on the issue,” it said.
In a letter to the Garda Commissioner, the CEO of Nama, Brendan McDonagh, said it was not previously notified of the bribery claims made today.
To my knowledge, this is the first time that such an allegation has been made. At no stage has the Deputy, or any other person, contacted Nama in relation to such an allegation. Nor, to my knowledge, is the Garda Siochána investigating this allegation by Deputy Wallace.
Please no one start with that 2016 crap… he’s 88 nanna was 96, Leonard coen was 79 or something… death happens get over it…
Two late Paul! Two late! If i die between now and Sunday, i ask of my loved ones, PLEASE PLEASE do not say ‘ God damn 2016′. I’m begging you!
In 2 years time twink or some sh## will be hit by a 2016 Scania truck n people be like “2016 was just so cruel to the celebrity’s”
No n people be more like shut up ya sap….
You guys are too cool for school.
RIP Anthony, I loved Dead As Doornails
Do you remember the year when no one died, mad so it was….
Anthony Cronin leaves behind him a great legacy of wonderful writing that will endure long after his desth.
I would be disturbed if no talented people were to die. We are all human. Some of us die sooner than others but we all die, even the most talented and gifted of us.
We notice the death of talented people more because they are in the public eye and can even be a backdrop to our lives but they, like us, are not immportal.
Roll on 2017 when no celebrities will die at all.
One of Ireland’s great intellectuals.
Dead as Doornails is a classic, he was always worth listening to in interviews with the incredible company he kept.
Who’s next? 2016 has not been a good year!
@Diarmuid Lucey:
What an original comment
Met him back about 20 years ago. A very nice man. Condolences to his wife and daughter.
RIP. Dead as Doornails is a classic. When people talk about the good old days, get them to read it
Curse of 2016 strikes again
Who is he?
French académicien Michel Deon Who lives in Conemarra is dead too. Bad Day for littérature
” Dead as Doornails “is a classic, excellent read, but rather dated and somewhat indecipherable today to people not necessarily in tune with 50s/60s Dublin Bohemia.
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