The Drumms reunited

After months languishing in US prisons, the former Anglo boss grabs a coffee with his devoted wife Lorraine – and even f inds time to chat with locals

AFTER stays in three prisons on two different continents former Anglo Irish banker David Drumm was finally reunited with wife Lorraine this weekend.

And as the devoted couple enjoyed a mid-morning cup of coffee together in their hometown of Skerries, north Co. Dublin, they looked as if they hadn’t a care in the world.

The pair have not seen each other outside the grim surroundings of courtrooms and highsecurity American prisons since the 49-yearold bank boss was arrested at their luxury home in Boston last October.

So it was no surprise that 47-year-old Lorraine took the first opportunity to be by the side of the man she has described in court as ‘the love of my life’ and her ‘rock’. Indeed, she has seldom left her husband’s side since being reunited with him on St Patrick’s Day.

A family friend revealed: ‘David was released on bail on Tuesday morning and got home to his mother’s house in Skerries around lunchtime.

‘Lorraine flew into Ireland on St Patrick’s Day and their two daughters came home with her. She has been by David’s side ever since and she is so protective of him that she has even gone with him when he signs on at the garda station.

‘You can see that the past five months have taken their toll on them. David has aged and even though Lorraine looks as stylish as ever, there is an unease and wariness about her that wasn’t there before.’

Walking around Skerries, Lorraine was dressed in fashionable torn jeans and biker boots, with large sunglasses propped on her head and she carried a Chloe Heloise handbag. Another friend, who met the couple since they were reunited on Thursday, revealed: ‘David and Lorraine went to the most popular coffee shop in Skerries for their first outing in town. It’s on the main street and if you didn’t want to be seen out and about it’s the last place you would go. They had a leisurely cup of coffee on the outside veranda that faces on to the town’s main street and although the place was packed they weren’t in the least bit bothered.

‘They were so relaxed in one another’s company that no one gave them a second glance.

‘After their coffee, David got up and, as soon as he saw anyone he knew, he stopped to say hello and chatted for ages. He seemed to have all the time in the world and, even though he looks shook, he certainly seemed at ease.’

Mr Drumm has also been spotted sipping a Baileys at a pub in Skerries with his father-in-law and has taken lengthy beachside walks with relatives.

A local added: ‘He didn’t want to be seen out and about for the first few days, so when he went walking on the beach he wore a baseball cap to hide his face. Since Lorraine came home he seems to be a lot more relaxed and has cast aside the baseball cap.’

Locals have also seen him out driving in a 13-year old Mercedes.

David and Lorraine Drumm both grew up in Skerries. They married almost 25 years ago and, following the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank, the family moved to Massachusetts in 2009. Their two daughters, aged 17 and 20, have attended private schools in Boston with annual fees of €38,000.

Two weeks after their move to the US, the Irish Mail on Sunday revealed that they had put their six-bedroom home in Ireland up for sale. Located in the exclusive Abington estate in the north Dublin coastal town of Malahide, their neighbours included Westlife star Nicky Byrne and wife Georgina.

When a MoS reporter approached Mr Drumm outside his new home in Chatham, the former Anglo boss was vague about his future plans. As he stood on the driveway, he said: ‘We are here for the summer.’

And when asked whether he planned to come back to Ireland, he added: ‘That is being discussed but nothing has been decided.’

Meanwhile, at a bail hearing in Dublin, it emerged that Lorraine Drumm plans to put their €1.75m home in the upmarket Boston suburb of Wellesley up for sale and then move back to Ireland when their youngest daughter finishes school next June.

At her husband’s American bankruptcy hearings, she said she had bought the Wellesley property with her own money. She also claimed that €1m was transferred to her from her husband because she feared their marriage would not survive.

She told the court: ‘Our marriage was going through a really tough time. I didn’t know if the marriage would survive. I didn’t know if he would drop dead of a heart attack. I was imagining life without him.’

David Drumm is charged with 33 alleged offences including forgery, conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

‘They were so relaxed in one another’s company’