TANAISTE and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore has insisted he did not know Prince Albert of Monaco attended a controversial dinner with Michael Lowry and Michael Fingleton during his visit to Ireland last week.
The Labour leader’s deputy, Social Welfare Minister Joan Burton, said yesterday she was shocked by the reports of the unofficial gathering organised by businessman Dr Michael Smurfit, Ireland’s Honorary Consul in Monaco — a position controlled by Mr Gilmore’s department.
Also on the guest list were disgraced TD Mr Lowry, the former Fine Gael minister officially reprimanded in the Dail the previous week following the Moriarty Tribunal report, and Mr Fingleton, the former Irish Nationwide chief.
Irish Nationwide provided the loan to Dr Smurfit and property developer Gerry Gannon to purchase the K Club in Co Kildare.
Gilmore ‘Had No Role’ In Prince’s Controversial Dinner (Fionan Sheehan, Irish Independent)