Courts / Dublin / Report

Anglo company secretary sought legal advice over minutes change

Date
2018-02-27
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, former company secretary Natasha Mercer testified that she sought legal advice after the bank's chairman, Donal O'Connor, asked her to amend the minutes of an audit‑committee meeting held on 18 November 2008. Mercer explained that she had written down different wording than what O'Connor recalled, and that her lawyers advised her that the chairman's signed minutes were the definitive record. She denied that O'Connor had ever told her to "shut up" when she challenged him about the minutes. Mercer also noted that her handwritten minutes of three September 2008 board meetings mentioned the Irish Life & Permanent transactions, whereas her typed minutes did not. The court heard that the final wording of the minutes described the ILP transactions as normal year‑end balance‑sheet activity, with no objections from the Financial Regulator or Ernst & Young.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Anglo company secretary sought legal advice over minutes change. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: Ms Mercer said she wanted to know her legal obligations regarding the final version of the minutes, because there were differences between what she had written down and what Mr O'Connor recalled. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Trial

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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