MINISTER OF STATE for Small Business John Perry was confronted at an event last night over alleged loans that he got from AIB.

He denied the accusations that he received a “soft loan” of €2.5 million from the bank.

The accusations were made by Jerry Beades, who got up and started directing the accusations towards Perry as he was speaking at a business networking event.

Beades, a property developer, continued talking for a number of a minutes despite being informed by the organisers that he could ask questions during the questions and answers session at the end of the meeting.

Beades asked Perry how he received a loan from AIB, and said that he had not disclosed the information.

Perry replied: “I didn’t get soft loans”.

Gardaí were called to the event and Beades left after they requested he leave.

Last year, a judgement of €2.47 million was made against Perry and his wife in the Commercial Court after Danske Bank sued them over loans connected to a number of properties in Perry’s constituency of Sligo-North Leitrim.

Perry and Danske Bank subsequently reached an agreement on the debt.

Read: John Perry has “full confidence” of Taoiseach but SF and FF call for explanation>

Read: