The former head of the IMF's Irish mission Ajai Chopra has hit out at Ireland's treatment at the hands of the European Central Bank.
Chopra has said the pressure placed on Ireland to accept a bailout in 2010 was "outrageous".
Mr Chopra's comments were made during a speech at Oxford University.
The IMF official accused the then ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet of over-reaching his power as a central banker.
He also said the possible negative effects of burning the bondholders were exaggerated by the ECB.