Why did Cowen overrule Lenihan?

On April 24, 2008, Brian Cowen, the then minister for finance, arrived for a private dinner at Heritage House in Dublin, a venue used by Anglo Irish Bank. It was arranged by his old friend Fintan Drury, a public relations executive who served on the board of Anglo. At the Heritage House dinner, Cowen mingled with a dozen Anglo board members and executives.

Seán FitzPatrick, the Anglo chairman, sat immediately to Cowen’s left, ...