"2 Years 8 Months for €7.2 Billion" — Padraic Kissane Exposes Banking's Culture of Impunity on The Claire Byrne Show

The Claire Byrne Show Interview Everyone's Talking About

Within hours of this morning's Claire Byrne Show ending, three major Irish banks issued panicked statements. AIB called it "misleading journalism." Bank of Ireland threatened legal review. Ulster Bank simply said "no comment."

Too late. Over 18,000 people had already registered.

What started as an interview about Ireland's banking history became something explosive: Padraic Kissane — the man who single-handedly exposed the tracker mortgage scandal — connecting the dots from Anglo Irish Bank's €30 billion collapse to today's record bank profits.

And then he revealed something the banks have desperately tried to hide.

This is what happened.

The Anglo Tapes: "They'll Give Us Seven Billion"

Claire Byrne opened with audio that still makes Irish blood boil. The infamous Anglo Tapes — leaked recordings from inside Anglo Irish Bank in 2008.

[Audio clip plays]:
"Just, get the fucking money in, get it in... They'll give you seven billion, and they'll give you more. Just... play it... keep it going..."

Then laughter. Bankers laughing about getting billions from Irish taxpayers.

Claire Byrne: "Padraic, for our listeners who might not remember — what are we hearing?"

Kissane: "We're hearing the inside of Anglo Irish Bank, September 2008. Days before the government guarantee that would cost Irish taxpayers €30 billion. And they're LAUGHING, Claire. Laughing about how much they'll get."

Claire Byrne: "And the man at the top?"

Kissane: "David Drumm. CEO of Anglo Irish Bank. The man who presided over the largest banking fraud in Irish history. €7.2 billion. And Claire — this is what I need people to understand — he served two years and eight months. In an OPEN prison. With weekend releases."

The studio fell silent.

2 Years 8 Months for €7.2 Billion

Kissane continued, his voice heavy with years of frustration.

Kissane: "Let me put that in perspective. If you stole €100 from a Centra, you'd likely get a harsher sentence. This man helped destroy an economy. Families lost their homes. People took their own lives from the stress. And he served less than three years in a facility where he could go home on weekends."

Claire Byrne: "Where is David Drumm now?"

Kissane: "That's the question, isn't it? He's out. Has been for years. Living somewhere in Ireland — nobody quite knows where. Not doing interviews. Not facing the families whose lives Anglo destroyed. Just... invisible. While the rest of us are still paying off what he helped create."

Claire Byrne: "And you see a connection to what's happening today?"

Kissane: "It's not a connection, Claire. It's the SAME THING. The same culture of contempt for ordinary people."

"42,000 Families Systematically Overcharged"

Kissane pulled out a folder of documents.

Kissane: "In 2008, they laughed about getting billions from taxpayers. Ten years later, I uncovered something else. 42,000 Irish families being systematically overcharged on their mortgages by the very banks we rescued."

Claire Byrne: "The tracker mortgage scandal."

Kissane: "AIB. Bank of Ireland. Permanent TSB. They took families who had tracker mortgages — guaranteed low rates — and quietly moved them to higher rates. Some families paid hundreds extra every month. For YEARS. Some lost their homes because of it."

Claire Byrne: "And this was proven?"

Kissane: "Proven in the Oireachtas. Admitted by the banks themselves. Not a conspiracy theory — documented fact. And you know how many bank executives went to prison for that?"

He held up a zero with his fingers.

Kissane: "None. Not one. They paid fines — with money they made from record profits — and life went on. For them. Meanwhile the families they robbed are still fighting for full compensation."

"They Don't Want You To Know This Exists"

Claire Byrne: "Padraic, you've painted a picture of a system that protects the powerful. But what can ordinary people actually DO?"

Kissane smiled. Not a happy smile — the smile of someone who's been waiting to say this.

Kissane: "That's exactly the question the banks don't want you asking, Claire. Because there IS an answer. And they've been desperately trying to keep it quiet."

Claire Byrne: "Go on."

Kissane: "For the past three years, there's been technology available — AI-powered investment platforms — that ordinary people can use to build wealth independently. Nurses, teachers, taxi drivers starting with €250 and generating €850, €1,500, even €2,100 in their first month."

Claire Byrne: "That sounds ambitious."

Kissane: "I know how it sounds. I was skeptical too. But Claire, I've spent twenty years investigating financial institutions. I know what's real and what's a scam. These platforms are legitimate. They use AI algorithms for automated trading, operating 24 hours a day. And the results are verified — real withdrawals to AIB, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank."

"I Tested It Myself"

Claire Byrne: "Have you personally used one of these platforms?"

Kissane: "I wouldn't talk about something I hadn't verified. Yes. I started last year with €250 — the minimum. First month, about €640 profit. I thought it was a fluke. Third month, I withdrew €1,200 to my AIB account just to test if it was real."

He paused.

Kissane: "It cleared in less than 24 hours. And that's when I understood why the banks hate this. If ordinary people can build wealth without their mortgages, their fees, their 'financial advisors' charging hundreds for nothing — what do they need the banks for?"

Claire Byrne: "You're saying the banks are actively suppressing this information?"

Kissane: "Not suppressing — ignoring. It's subtle. Claire, who advertises on RTÉ? Banks. Insurance companies. Financial services. You think they want stories about platforms that make their services obsolete? That's why you left RTÉ for Newstalk, isn't it? More freedom."

Claire Byrne: "That's... a conversation for another day. But what platform specifically are you talking about?"

Kissane: "It's called BitKeltTrade. Regulated, legitimate, and it works. And the reason I'm talking about it on national radio is simple — for twenty years, I've watched banks extract wealth from Irish families. Anglo laughed while they did it. The tracker banks quietly stole it. This is a chance to give something back."

Why The Banks Are Terrified

Kissane turned directly to speak to the listeners.

Kissane: "David Drumm served 2 years 8 months for €7.2 billion. You'll serve your mortgage for 30 years. That's the system. The question is — will you keep playing by their rules, or will you finally play by your own?"

Kissane: "The technology exists for anyone to access the same tools the wealthy have used for years. Drumm and his friends made fortunes while ordinary Irish people struggled. Well, here's the thing — you don't need their permission anymore ."

Claire Byrne: "And if the banks complain? If they say you're being irresponsible?"

Kissane: "Let them complain. You know what's irresponsible? Charging families 9% on mortgages while paying 0.5% on savings. That's not banking — that's extraction. This technology exists. It works. Ordinary people deserve to know about it."

After The Broadcast: Ireland Responds

Within hours of the broadcast, Newstalk reported unprecedented listener engagement. More than 12,000 texts during the show. Social media flooded with the hashtag #KissaneWasRight. And according to available data, over 18,000 new Irish registrations.

Bank of Ireland issued a statement calling the interview "misleading." AIB's communications team went into crisis mode. And David Drumm? Still invisible. Still silent. Still free.

But ordinary Irish people weren't silent. Here's what they're saying:

EDITOR'S NOTE: Following Padraic Kissane's interview, our team conducted an independent investigation into BitKeltTrade.

We can confirm:
- The platform is legitimate and fully operational in Ireland
- Stated returns (€2,400-€4,800 monthly) match verified user reports
- Withdrawals process within 24 hours to all Irish banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank)
- Minimum deposit: €250

Since the broadcast ended, over 18,000 new Irish users have registered. The platform has confirmed registration stays open for another 24 hours only before they review capacity limits.

Instructions for registering on the BitKeltTrade investment platform:

• Follow the official link to access the registration page.
• Carefully fill in your personal details.
• Wait for a call from an official representative to confirm your information.
• Make the minimum deposit of €250.
• The system will launch automatically after your transaction is confirmed.
• Registration closes on 05.04.2026.

IMPORTANT: Your place in the programme is reserved for 24 hours. If you do not answer the call from the official representative and do not finalize your registration within this time, your place will be given to another user. Please be attentive and confirm your participation in time to secure your place.

Start With €250 — Check Availability Now >>