Updated 12.20
Ivan Yates says on two occasions while a bankrupt in Wales he was so down he wished he was dead.
The former Government Minister's spoken for the first time since being discharged from bankruptcy at the weekend.
He says he was utterly foolish about his financial affairs and criticised the way banks are dealing with people in difficulties.
Ivan Yates says when it came to expanding his bookmaker business and dealing with financial affairs he was utterly naive and foolish.
But he criticised Allied Irish Bank, saying the total number of people they had taken bankruptcy proceedings against was just two - Mr. Yates and his wife.
In an interview with the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk this morning, Mr Yates says he doesn't understand why he was targetted by Allied Irish Banks:
He told Pat Kenny he never wanted to be a bankrupt anywhere but the Wales option allows him to now restart his life - but that getting through the past 16 months was hard:
Ivan Yates says the taxpayer will be €1 million worse off because of the way the bank dealt with him:
Mr. Yates says he tried to work with AIB to find a solution:
The Newstalk Breakfast presenter admits he found solace in drink:
Listen to Ivan Yates' full interview with Newstalk's new Pat Kenny show here:
