I have up to 40 sources all alleging wrongdoing by Nama, says Wallace
Setting up of the whistleblowing site prompts fears that underbidders may sue the State, writes Ronald Quinlan
Commercial Property Editor INDEPENDENT TD Mick Wallace has claimed that up to 40 different individuals — including developers, solicitors, former Nama employees and businesspeople — have contacted him with allegations of serious misconduct involving Nama.
The figure may well grow even further in the coming weeks with Wallace’s establishment of Namaleaks, in conjunction with Intercept, the online forum that assisted CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The establishment of the whistleblowing site, which has prompted fears that underbidders for Nama loan tranches may seek to sue the State, is expected to go live within days.
“We’re just about there. It’s a vehicle that’s never been in Ireland before,” Wallace told the Sunday Independent. “This is the first of its kind. If people have worked in Nama or with investment funds and they have seen poor practice, and they want to see that exposed, we’re creating a vehicle where they can send proof of it.”
Anyone who provides information in relation to alleged wrongdoing involving Nama or agents acting on its behalf can rest assured that their identities “will be 100pc protected”, Wallace insisted.
“We won’t be protecting it [their identities], because we won’t know who they are. This is being structured by an organisation in America,” he said.
Referring to those developers, former Nama employees and others who had already come to him with allegations of wrongdoing involving Nama, he said he was “well aware” the majority of them have a “vested interest” and don’t necessarily agree with his politics, but he has listened to them and sought with the assistance of his team to establish the truth or otherwise of their claims.
“The truth is a lot of people out there have a vested interest in the truth being told about how Nama operates. That’s why so many people have contacted me,” he said.
The Independent TD is due to meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the near future to discuss his repeated calls for a commission of inquiry into Nama’s sale of its €5.6bn Northern Ireland loan book to US private equity giant Cerberus.
When contacted, Nama declined to comment.
THE independent TD Mick Wallace has claimed that up to 40 different individuals, including developers, solicitors, former Nama employees and business people, have contacted him with allegations of serious misconduct involving Nama.
The figure may well grow even further in the coming weeks with Wallace’s establishment of Namaleaks, in conjunction with Intercept, the online forum which assisted CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The establishment of the whistleblowing site, which has prompted fears that underbidders for Nama loan tranches may seek to sue the State, is expected to go live within days.
“We’re just about there. It’s a vehicle that’s never been in Ireland before,” Wallace told the Sunday Independent.
“This is the first of its kind. If people have worked in Nama or with investment funds and they have seen poor practice, and they want to see that exposed, we’re creating a vehicle where they can send proof of it.”
Anyone who provides information in relation to alleged wrongdoing involving Nama or agents acting on its behalf can rest assured that their identities “will be 100pc protected”, Wallace insisted.
“We won’t be protecting it [their identities], because we won’t know who they are. This is being structured by an organisation in America,” he said.
“This will be very interesting. It will be an opportunity for people to expose wrongdoing. We would expect it to inform us better than we are being informed at the moment,” added Wallace. Commenting on the numbers of people who have already come to him directly with allegations of wrongdoing involving Nama, he said: “I can safely say that I have received information from in the region of 40 different sources; developers, solicitors, former Nama employees and some small- er business people. There’s been a big range of people who have contacted me.”
And while he says he is “well aware” the majority of those who have approached him have a “vested interest” and don’t necessarily agree with his politics, he has been willing to listen to them, with a view to establishing the truth or otherwise of their claims.
“The truth is a lot of people out there have a vested interest in the truth being told about how Nama operates. That’s why so many people have contacted me,” he said.
While Wallace is due to have a meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the near future to discuss his repeated calls for a commission of inquiry into Nama’s sale of its €5.6bn Northern Ireland loan book to US private equity giant Cerberus, he has little faith in the Government’s appetite for such an investigation.
He says: “I can’t second guess them [the Government], but I am aware they were very content to agree to the inquiry into the IBRC without too much hassle. They seemed to be comfortable enough they’d be able to deal with the outcome.
“I think they’re a little bit more wary of the outcome of the truth surrounding Nama.
“The Taoiseach, the Tanaiste, the Minister for Finance have said if I have any information, I should go to the gardai. I’ve talked to the gardai on numerous occasions, I’ve talked to the British National Crime Agency (NCA).
“I’ve seen stuff I shouldn’t have seen that has gone to the gardai from other people. I can tell you it’s pretty damning. If anyone thinks the guards are not being kept well informed about what’s going on in Nama, that’s not true”.
When contacted and asked for a response, Nama declined to comment.