Hints as to the identities of the main sources behind RTE's National Irish Bank story earlier this year were given by reporter Mr Charlie Bird last night.

Speaking at the launch of Breaking the Bank, which he wrote with colleague Mr George Lee, Mr Bird told a room packed with RTE news staff that "a former government minister was the person who recommended to a leading trade unionist that he give the story to me".

He would not elaborate and the room was left guessing whom he was talking about. The trade unionist provided the initial information and a man Mr Bird referred to as "the duffle-bag banker" then helped the RTE duo confirm what it had been told. The former Labour Party leader, Mr Dick Spring, formally launching Breaking the Bank, praised RTE for backing the journalists, particularly in the court action where NIB tried to stymie them.

He had a few stories to tell about Mr Bird, including the time he kicked him in the shin when he asked a third question even though he'd promised only to ask two. E reporter about a controversy which had broken out back home. However, all of this seemed forgiven last night. Mr Spring praised a "splendid book" and a "thrilling tale", and said the story was the result of hard tedious work done in the pursuit of truth and accuracy.

But it seems it was not all tedium. Mr Lee told a story about being in a hotel waiting to meet an important contact. He had consumed one pint and his colleague had consumed three. "We need to keep our wits about us," Mr Lee warned. "You keep your wits about you," Mr Bird replied. "I'll work the guy."