Ian Bailey arriving at the Four Courts this morning

Breaking News reports:

“The jury in the former journalist’s [Ian Bailey’s] damages action for wrongful arrest over the French film producer’s death has been listening to a series of phone calls taped at Bandon garda station. In June 25, 1997, Det Sgt Liam Hogan and Chief Superintendent Sean Camon discuss preparing the book of evidence for the Director of Public Prosecutions in the du Plantier murder case.

In their recorded conversation about Ian Bailey, Sgt Hogan says all they have is “very weak circumstantial evidence”. He tells his superior “unless we break Jules” it is “a 50/50…we need her broken”, in what appears to be a clear reference to Mr Bailey’s partner Jules Thomas. Liam Hogan, now deceased, also talks about going back to “fill in” statements.”

Court hears Garda call describing ‘very weak circumstantial evidence’ against Bailey (Breakingnews.ie)

Recorded in the run up to the bank guarantee.

A mere fragment of a transcript of a conversation between Anglo Irish Bank senior managers John Bowe and Peter Fitzgerald from September 2008 revealed by Paul Williams in today’s Irish Independent.

This exchanges (above) occurred following a meeting between the bank and the Financial Regulator’s office at the Central Bank to assess Anglo’s bad debt exposure.

Mr Bowe is asked by Mr Fitzgerald how they had come up with the figure of €7bn.

“Just, as Drummer (then-CEO David Drumm) would say, ‘picked it out of my arse‘.”