IRELAND'S Madoff

Breifne O'Brien is back in the news again today as news emerged of a creditors meeting to wind up his taxi firm. Read here. O'Brien, who cut a dash about town during the Celtic Tiger days has been likened to Bernie Madoff in that he used used social contacts to get people to invest in his pyramid scheme. The comparisons stop there, considering O'Brien swindled a mere €20 million compared to Madoff's $50 billion. Also Madoff was locked up and the key thrown away within five months. Meanwhile O'Brien and other Irish Madoffs have been free to come and go, no doubt checking out their foreign properties and assets and even enjoying the odd round of golf. If only Bernie had based himself in Dublin.