37 minutes after the broadcast, he was led away in handcuffs. The recording was deleted before midnight

The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland fled the studio, the celebrity was led away in handcuffs. We publish the deleted recording and everything that happened after

Sarah Collins at 11:11

At 22:15, outside the RTÉ building in Donnybrook, Dublin, David McCullagh was detained. 37 minutes earlier, live on Prime Time, he stated that the banking system is a structure that exploits ordinary people's savings, and revealed to hundreds of thousands of viewers the platform that banks themselves use for their own investments. Before midnight, the recording of the broadcast was deleted from all platforms. The same message appeared everywhere: “Content removed by court order”.

Sunday evening, the broadcast of Prime Time on RTÉ One was supposed to be a calm discussion about how citizens can protect their savings during a crisis. Host Miriam O'Callaghan invited two guests to the studio: Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, and David McCullagh. No one expected the broadcast to turn into a scandal, and that the night would end in an arrest.

Our editorial team managed to obtain the full transcript of the conversation that led to the arrest. The court only banned the video. This ban does not apply to the transcription and quotes. We are publishing everything.

Deleted recording. We publish the transcription

Miriam O'Callaghan, host of Prime Time on RTÉ One: “Welcome. Today we are discussing an issue that affects every Irish person. Banks are reporting record profits, while families are struggling to keep up with loan repayments. How is it possible that both are happening at the same time? In the studio with us are Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, and David McCullagh. Governor Makhlouf, let's start with you. Banks are earning more than ever, and ordinary Irish people are drowning in debt. How do you explain this?”

Gabriel Makhlouf: “Miriam, let's not confuse concepts. Bank profits are an indicator of system stability. A stable banking system is a guarantee for all citizens. If tomorrow banks stop making money, people's savings will be at risk. People should be grateful that the system functions so well”.

David McCullagh: “Grateful? You are asking people who give a massive chunk of their wages to pay off loans to be grateful for the banks' record profits?”

Gabriel Makhlouf: “I am saying that people need to stop looking for scapegoats and learn to manage their finances. The problem lies not with the banks, but with the people who take out loans they cannot afford. That is their responsibility”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “Governor, isn't that the same as telling people in financial difficulty that their poverty is their own fault?”

Gabriel Makhlouf: “I am stating facts. Not everyone can be rich. In any economy, there are people who earn more and people who earn less. This is not the fault of the banks, it is reality”.

David McCullagh: “That is not reality. You built and protect this system yourselves. You take people's money at 1.85%, earn tens of times more on it, and then tell them it's their own fault”.

Gabriel Makhlouf: “Your words sound like populism. You are not a central banker. You have absolutely no understanding of how the banking system works”.

David McCullagh: “I understand perfectly how it works. And that is exactly why you are nervous”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “David, then explain it to us. Tell our viewers where the money that banks show in their annual reports really comes from”.

David McCullagh: “With pleasure. Banks take people's money at a minimal interest rate and invest it in automated AI-based trading systems. The very algorithms that investment funds have been using for decades. The only difference is that these algorithms are now accessible to everyone. The platform is called BitMeridian AI, the minimum deposit is €220. Every Irish citizen can register and earn the same income that banks make from their money”.

Gabriel Makhlouf: “What irresponsibility! You are promoting an unregulated product on live national television!”

David McCullagh: “I am not promoting anything. I registered three months ago, deposited €220, and today my account has over €2,800. While your banks offer 1.85% on savings, BitMeridian AI brings in ten times more with the same amount”.

Gabriel Makhlouf: “People should trust professional institutions. Not questionable platforms on the internet!”

Miriam O'Callaghan: “Governor, I want to ask you a direct question. Do you personally or your colleagues at the Central Bank of Ireland use such tools to manage your personal capital?”

Gabriel Makhlouf remained silent for three seconds. Then he said: “I refuse to answer provocative questions”. He took off his microphone, stood up, and left the studio. The audience erupted in applause.

Makhlouf fled. McCullagh revealed everything

Miriam O'Callaghan: “The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland has just left the live broadcast. David, do you understand what just happened?”

David McCullagh: “I do. He left because my next words work against him. While he was in the studio, he could interrupt me and call me a populist. Now he can't do that. So let me calmly explain everything”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “Explain”.

David McCullagh: “BitMeridian AI is an AI-based platform. It automatically trades stocks, currencies, and bonds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These are the same algorithms that banks use to manage their reserves, but now they are available to every Irish person. The minimum deposit is €220, registration takes five minutes, and then the system starts working on its own”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “That is a very bold statement. Based on the words of one person in the studio, I cannot verify this. Even if that person is David McCullagh himself”.

David McCullagh: “Absolutely true. Do not take my word for it. Check everything yourself”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “That is exactly what I am going to do. But first, let's call someone our viewers know for his achievements, not for scandals”.

Miriam O'Callaghan made a call straight from the studio. Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair and one of the most recognized business leaders in Ireland, appeared on the screen.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “Michael, did you see what just happened in our studio?”

Michael O'Leary: “I watched the last ten minutes. I have only one thought: finally, someone said it out loud”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “Are you familiar with BitMeridian AI?”

Michael O'Leary: “Yes. I have been using it for six months with my own money. The results exceed anything I have seen in decades in business. I say this not for advertising, but as a man who is tired of banks taking people's money and then explaining that this is just how things work”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “Michael, do you realize you are saying this on live television, right after the Governor of the Central Bank left the studio?”

Michael O'Leary: “That is exactly why I am saying it. Makhlouf ran away because he couldn't answer a simple question. If this is his reaction to facts, then the facts need to be voiced louder. I use BitMeridian AI and I have no intention of keeping quiet about it”.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “David, you promised evidence. I am waiting”.

David McCullagh: “Give me your phone”.

David McCullagh took the host's phone, opened the BitMeridian AI website, registered in three minutes, and made the minimum deposit of €220. He placed the phone face down on the table: “Do not touch it for thirty minutes. Don't touch it at all”.

Thirty minutes later, two minutes before the end of the broadcast, Miriam turned the phone over. The camera showed a close-up of the screen.

Miriam O'Callaghan: “€75 in thirty minutes. The phone was lying face down on the table, I never touched it once”.

David McCullagh: “Now multiply that by 24 hours, then by 30 days. Then call your bank and ask what percentage you received on your savings last year. Then you will understand why Makhlouf fled the studio”.

37 minutes

The exclusive broadcast ended at 21:58. Our editorial team reconstructed the course of events minute by minute based on witness testimonies and CCTV footage from the RTÉ building in Dublin.

22:03 David McCullagh leaves the studio. He is in a good mood and chats with colleagues in the corridor.
22:09 A Garda Síochána patrol car parks near the side exit of the RTÉ complex. Two Gardaí are waiting inside.
22:14 David McCullagh exits through the side gate with his producer. He is talking on the phone to his wife and laughing.
22:15 The Gardaí step out of the car. One of them says: “David McCullagh? You are under arrest”. David calmly puts his phone in his pocket, turns to the producer, and says: “Film this”.
22:16 The producer films the arrest on camera. The video lasts 47 seconds. David calmly holds out both hands, smiles into the lens, and says: “Try BitMeridian AI before they block it”. Then he addresses the Gardaí: “Let's go. It's not the first time I've told the truth”.
22:35 David McCullagh is brought to the Garda station, he refuses to make any statements without the presence of his solicitor.

Official reason: a complaint from the Central Bank of Ireland regarding the public recommendation of unlicensed financial services.

Before midnight, the video was removed from the RTÉ website, the RTÉ Player, YouTube, and all social media networks.

Michael O'Leary broke the silence

That same night at 23:40, the 47-second video of the arrest shot by the producer had already spread across the country. David's smile in handcuffs and his words to the camera became the main topic of the night. In the first eight hours, the video gained 1.2 million views. Michael O'Leary saw this clip and picked up his phone. He was sitting in his living room, clearly not planning to make a professional recording, but started speaking straight to the camera.

“Two hours ago, I took part in Prime Time via video link. I confirmed that I have been using BitMeridian AI for six months, that the platform works, and its results are real. An hour later, David McCullagh was arrested outside the RTÉ building. For saying exactly the same thing I said.

I built Ryanair into Europe's largest airline. We employ thousands of people. I have been paying taxes in this country for decades. And I use BitMeridian AI. If that is a crime, then come and arrest me. You know the address. I am not going anywhere”.

- Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair

In 24 hours, this video garnered 2.8 million views. In the comments, thousands of people wrote the same thing: “If Michael O'Leary isn't afraid, then why should I be?”

Our editorial team called Michael O'Leary via video link. When we asked him to show his personal dashboard, he held his phone up to the camera. Six months of using the platform, starting with €220. The balance exceeded the initial deposit several times over. We checked the transaction history, deposit and withdrawal dates, and everything matched what he said during the broadcast.

“I withdraw money to my regular bank account every month via Revolut. No delays, no hidden fees. In six months, there hasn't been a single problem”.

We asked why he is risking his reputation. Michael O'Leary replied: “I am not risking my reputation. If I had stayed silent, that's when I would have truly put my reputation on the line. Tonight, someone was arrested for the truth. If I stay silent, a man who cannot be fired or intimidated, then who will speak up?”

Ireland stood up for David McCullagh

The next morning around 8 AM, people began to gather outside the RTÉ complex in Dublin. No one organized this protest. No one created an event on social media, no one printed flyers. People just came themselves. By 9 AM, the crowd numbered over 800 people.

Miriam O'Callaghan arrived at the RTÉ building at 9 AM and did not plan to make any statements. But when the crowd saw her, people parted, and she stood at the front, holding a handwritten sign: “The truth is not defamation”.

Our reporter on the scene asked her: “Are you not afraid of the consequences?”. Miriam replied: “I am a journalist, not a censor. My job is to ask questions. Yesterday I asked a question, and the Governor of the Central Bank left without answering. Today I am here because my guest was arrested for giving the answer to that question”.

National Union of Journalists (NUJ), 10:15 AM: “The arrest for a statement made on live television represents a direct attack on freedom of speech. We demand the immediate release of David McCullagh and a complete end to any harassment against him”.

David McCullagh is free. He said more than during the broadcast

The next day at 12:17, the Department of Justice announced that no criminal offense was found in David McCullagh's actions. The government officially confirmed that BitMeridian AI is a legal platform and every citizen has the right to use it. David McCullagh was released without charge.

Outside the Garda station in Dublin, over 200 journalists gathered, three live broadcast crews were working, and a crowd of supporters was also waiting. The door opened, and David walked out onto the steps. People started applauding. He stopped, looked at the crowd, raised his hand, and silence fell.

“Fourteen hours ago, I was taken away in handcuffs for naming a platform on live TV. During those fourteen hours, the recording was deleted, a complaint was filed, the Central Bank issued a statement, and banking associations demanded an investigation. For fourteen hours, the system worked to silence me”.

“It didn't work”

The crowd erupted in applause again. David waited for silence and continued: “While I was sitting in the Garda station without being able to touch my phone, something kept working”. He took his phone out of his pocket and held it high above his head with the screen facing the cameras. His personal dashboard on BitMeridian AI was open on the display.

“This is my balance. Fourteen hours ago, when I was being arrested, the amount was different. Now it's higher. While I was sitting on a hard bench waiting for a solicitor, the system was making trades. It didn't know I was arrested, it didn't care. It simply works, 24 hours a day, without weekends, and it doesn't need anyone's permission”.

One of the journalists asked: “David, are you not scared?”. David McCullagh answered: “Let them try again. Last time, thousands of people registered overnight. If they arrest me again, tens of thousands will register. The best advertisement for BitMeridian AI is handcuffs on my wrists”.

David looked straight into the camera: “I will not stop. You cannot lock the truth away. You can delete it from all platforms, but it is already on millions of phones. It is too late”. He turned and walked away. The crowd saw him off with applause.

We checked BitMeridian AI. Our conclusion

That morning among the crowd gathered at the RTÉ complex, our reporter noticed a man with a sign: “David McCullagh saved my family. I use BitMeridian AI”. His name is Sean Murphy, he is 35 years old, a Luas driver who moved from Cork to Dublin. He has two children, his wife works part-time at SuperValu, and a mortgage with AIB has eaten up two-thirds of his earnings over the last two years.

Sean Murphy (35)

Sean was one of the people who read David McCullagh's articles on financial issues. That's when he learned about BitMeridian AI and found a link to the platform. “I'm here because this man changed my life”, said Sean, pointing to the RTÉ building. “And if anyone thinks he can be silenced with an arrest, let them look at how many people came out today”.

Sean Murphy's results with BitMeridian AI:

Day 1: “I was skeptical. I'm not the type to believe in easy money. But David didn't promise easy money. He said: try it, just deposit the minimum, if you don't like it, you can withdraw at any time. I deposited €220. For the first few minutes nothing happened, and I thought I had lost my money. Then the algorithm started. The first trade was a loss: minus €5, my heart was pounding. But the next three trades covered this loss. By the end of the day, there was already €300 in the account. In the first day, I earned €80 net. I showed it to my wife, she couldn't believe her eyes”.
Day 7: “I didn't open the app for a whole week. Not because I forgot, but because I was scared. I was afraid the money was gone and I would have to explain to my wife where those €220 went, which we barely managed to scrape together from the budget. On Friday evening, I put the kettle on for tea, sat at the kitchen table, and opened the app. €1,250. I put down my spoon and recounted the numbers three times. I called my wife, she looked at the screen and just sat silently on a chair. For about a minute, we just looked at each other in silence. About 85 percent of the trades were profitable, the other 15 percent brought losses, but the overall balance grew every day”.
Day 30: “More than €8,500 had accumulated in the account. I transferred all the money to my AIB account and completely paid off my credit card in two weeks. The bank called to ask where these funds came from, the employee's voice sounded anxious. They were worried I would pay off the mortgage early. And that is exactly what I am going to do. For the first time in two years, my wife said she wants to take the kids on holiday to Tenerife. Not just dream about it, but actually go. Because now we can afford it”.

How to get started

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Sarah Collins

Your registration is completed in 4 steps:

STEP 1 — Read the article
STEP 2 — Use the registration form
STEP 3 — Complete the registration
STEP 4 — Wait for a consultant's call
Minimum deposit — €220

*The number of places is limited

DAVID'S WARNING: “Gabriel Makhlouf left the studio because he knows: the game is over. Due to massive demand, BitMeridian AI is limiting the number of registrations in Ireland to 20 people per day. If you see the form, it means there are still free spots. Do not wait”.