Revealed – 'Concerned citizen' who challenged Mary Lou McDonald on fair taxes is top banker.
The man who refused to divulge his name to reporters despite repeated requests claimed he was a “small business owner”.
An Phoblacht learned that the man is Fergus Crawford, CEO of the Irish branch of Sarasin & Partners, which is based at 120 St Stephen's Green and is part of private Swiss Bank J Safra Sarasin.
The asset management firm manages more than €15billion in assets. Some of the services it provides includes offshore hedge funds based in overseas locations such as the Channel Islands which help reduce the tax liabilities for clients in places like Ireland.
During his exchange with Mary Lou McDonald, Crawford criticised Sinn Féin's plans to ask higher earners to pay an extra 7 cent on each euro earned in excess of €100,000 per year.
Crawford shouted that his children didn't want to “aspire to €69,000 a year” while ludicrously claiming that Sinn Féin wants to tax people “out of existence”.
During the exchange he told reporters he would "probably vote for Fine Gael".
Mary Lou McDonald pointed out to him that more than 50% of the workforce in Ireland earns less than €28,500 a year and that Sinn Féin wants to ease the tax burden on low and middle earners while asking those at the top to pay a little more.
*From 1996 to July 2008 he served in various roles, including Head of Investment, for ACC Bank.
Main article by Mark Moloney of An Phoblacht
Fergus Crawford, CEO of the Irish branch of Sarasin & Partners, which is based at 120 St Stephen's Green and is part of private Swiss Bank J Safra Sarasin.
THE 'CONCERNED CITIZEN' who claimed he was a small business owner when he confronted Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald about tax reform during a press event on Grafton Street in Dublin on Friday is actually the CEO of a Swiss investment firm.
*From 1996 to July 2008 he served in various roles, including Head of Investment, for ACC Bank.Main article by Mark Moloney of An Phoblacht
Foot note by aheronsview
When searching for his company’s web site www.sarasin-alpen.com it now appears to be non operational!
When searching for his company’s web site www.sarasin-alpen.com it now appears to be non operational!
Well,so much for opening his big mouth and telling lies about being a small business man.
Further proof if we needed it of the cunningness and stupidity of the Bankers who got us into the recent financial fiasco.............
ReplyDeleteDeviousness and lies from bankers - somehow I'm not as surprised as I ought to be!
ReplyDeleteAs a Banker he was not at all astute or sufficiently bright enough hide his identity - my mind boggles at his naivety.
DeleteHe and others like him have no awareness of the burden carried by people who earn so much less. They also think they are somehow entitled to earn so much and pay so little. The crazy thing is they don't really 'earn' the money most of the time. It just rolls in from interest, investments and trading. The people who earn it for them probably earn less than half that €69 000. Those are the people who actually do the admin work at the banks.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are correct Val.
DeleteUgh ! Don't get me started on these greedy psychopathic a*seholes.
ReplyDeleteWell, he has now been shown up for exactly what he is !
DeleteHi Mel - the problem is they all have an opinion .. and that's just not necessary to hear - they don't merit that hearing. And Val has it right ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you for your opinion too Hilary :) Seriously though you are correct!
DeleteGreat to see tens of thousands taking to the streets of Dublin in protest today though!
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed JB a great turnout in excess of 80,000 on a cold damp day in Dublin Town. Demonstrating that there are a lot of angry people out there!
DeleteThe election on Friday may well give a lot of surprises for people are fed up with being bamboozled.
That's an interesting one, everyone has an opinion these days. It appears those at the top care less about those at the bottom really. Greetings!
ReplyDeleteOne thing is certain that the last five years has seen ordinary people placed under enormous financial hardship, from having to emigrate to find work approx 350,000 and still young people are leaving.Thousands have seen their homes repossessed some are living on the streets others with relatives and in unhealthy hostels. On the day of the election thirteen families are being evicted from a Dublin hostel because of a financial error made by a local authority. Car insurance has risen by 30% this year, tap water laced with chemicals is being charged for. I could go on but I will stop, except to say that
Deletethe rich are now the filthy rich and are wealthier than they were five years ago.
These high earners don't 'get it' that their tax pays for their workforce to be kept healthy, educated, safe, on the road etc. Why they think they shouldn't have to pay towards this is beyond me. Unfortunately society is becoming very selfish and here that definitely started during the evil Thatcher days.
ReplyDeleteYes Fran, you are right and unfortunately that attitude spun out into the international community and is prevalent everywhere.
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