How the Eagle fell to earth

June 24, 2013: US law firm Brown Rudnick writes to Sammy Wilson, then Northern Ireland’s finance minister, to tell him that two clients would be interested in buying Nama’s Northern Irish loan book. Wilson forwards the mail to Michael Noonan.

July 25, 2013: Michael Noonan responds to Wilson, telling him that bidders “are encouraged to make direct contact with Nama”.

September 2013: Brown Rudnick makes an unsolicited approach to Nama, saying that its ...