More Drumm family members plead with judge for his release

More family members of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm have written to a US judge pleading for his release from custody on bail while he fights his extradition back to Ireland.

Two of Mr Drumm's brothers and another sister have submitted letters to Massachusetts Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell ahead of a bail hearing at the Moakley courthouse in Boston on Friday.

The letters are part of an effort by his relatives and business associates to convince the judge that he should release Mr Drumm on bail to prepare a defence against his extradition proceedings.

A handwritten letter from his 80-year-old mother along with letters from his wife Lorraine and a sister were filed in court on Tuesday to support a motion from his three lawyers seeking his release on bail.

The Dubliner (49) is wanted in Ireland to face 33 charges relating to transactions carried out while he was chief executive of the bank during the deepening banking crisis seven years ago.

US attorney Amy Burkart said at a court hearing last month that they would challenge his release, claiming that he was a flight risk.

According to new filings to the Massachusetts District Court, Mr Drumm's youngest brother (38), whose name is redacted from the letter, has told the judge that his brother is "certainly not a flight risk".

“David poses no risk if the court grants him bail and I respectfully ask you to give him back his freedom so that he can return to his family,” said his sibling in the one-page letter to the judge.

Another brother, who said he was 18 months younger than Mr Drumm and describes himself as “David’s closest brother,” begged the judge in another letter to grant his brother bail and “allow him to deal with the issues and challenges facing him with some fighting chance.”

Irish company records show that Mr Drumm’s brother Ken is 18 months younger than the former Anglo banker.

He described “David’s difficulties in Ireland” as “frustrating,” saying he has seen first hand how difficult it has been on him and his family.

"It is in David's interest and his family's interest to bring this matter to a close and allow everyone to get on with their lives and he wishes to do so," said Ken Drumm.

“He can only do it by defending himself, whether that leads to a successful defence or otherwise, at least he will have the chance to present his version of the truth and accept the decisions and consequences that flow from this. At present his voice is unheard.”

Ken Drumm told the US judge that his brother “would never consider fleeing” and that such an act would be “unthinkable.”

"I have based myself in the United States this past three weeks to help and assist David in this time of crisis and I am willing to offer anything the court asks of me to secure David's freedom to return to his family and be allowed to fight his case," said Mr Drumm's brother.

In another letter, David Drumm’s sister, whose name is redacted from the court filing, told the judge that she is “absolutely certain that my brother poses no risk if he is given bail.”

“I have only known my brother to be honest forthcoming, dependable and cooperative,” she wrote.

“He is dedicated to his family, to Lorraine and the girls will abide by whatever he must to ensure their wellbeing. Please give him a chance and grant bail.”

She asked the court to show compassion towards her brother. “He will not let you down as he has never let us down,” she said.

In a fourth letter filed with the court on Thursday, a New Jersey company president - whose name has also been redacted - told the judge that Mr Drumm worked as a consultant for the company.

“David is honest, dependable and a man of integrity. Knowing David as I do, considering his love for his family and where he resides, I have the utmost faith in him meeting all the requirements imposed on him for bail,” he wrote.

“David has the utmost respect for the justice system and I believe will strictly adhere to any conditions set.”

Mr Drumm has been held in custody in four facilities in two states over the past month since his arrest at home in Wellesley near Boston on October 10th.

His lawyers claim that the extradition request is motivated by a “political purposes,” pointing to the upcoming Irish general election in the motion to the court this week.