FF spokesman says Anglo bankers should be tried for treason

Seán Fleming says he would prefer to see bankers brought to court rather than embarrassed in front of Dáil committee

Seán Fleming: “I would consider there is a case for treason there and that is actually in our Constitution – somebody who sets out to damage the State.” Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Seán Fleming: “I would consider there is a case for treason there and that is actually in our Constitution – somebody who sets out to damage the State.” Photograph: Cyril Byrne


Fianna Fáil's spokesman on public expenditure and reform believes the Anglo Irish Bank tapes should lead to treason charges.

Speaking on Midlands 103 Radio yesterday, Seán Fleming TD argued there could be a case for treason, as set out in the Constitution.

Mr Fleming said he was “shocked and disgusted” by the revelations.

He said it was clear the Government was given wrong information on the night of the bank guarantee.

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"It looks now as if the Government and the people of Ireland were lied to that night," he remarked. He maintained he had always opposed the inclusion of Anglo Irish Bank in the guarantee.

Prosecutions
Referring to the Anglo Irish phone discussions from 2008, he said, "I would actually like to see prosecutions and court cases, because you can get people and they can be brought to jail if they are in contempt of court".

Mr Fleming explained that “any tribunal or Dáil committee, useful and all as they will be, won’t be able to do that and I want to see these people in court”.

“They said that they were actually taking the Irish State for a ride and they were picking figures out of you know where and they wanted to hook the Irish people and the Irish taxpayer.

"I would consider there is a case for treason there and that is actually in our Constitution – somebody who sets out to damage the State," he argued.

'Held to account'
Deputy Fleming said he would prefer to see people brought to court rather than be embarrassed in front of a Dáil committee.

“If there was any wrongdoing by a Cabinet Minister, they should be held to account for that as well,” he added.

Whatever happened, Mr Fleming said, the money “has been squandered” and spent.