There is to be no appeal against a High Court decision that National Irish Bank must reveal to lawyers for RTE and journalist Charlie Bird the names of 65 customers alleged to have benefitted from a financial investment scheme introduced by Fianna Fail TD Beverly Cooper-Flynn.
RTE had sought the names in preparation for its defence of an action alleging it had libelled Ms Cooper-Flynn in interviews.
In the High Court last week, Mr Justice Kelly directed the names should be disclosed to the lawyers acting for RTE and Mr Bird. He put a one-week stay on his order to give time for consideration of an appeal.
Ms Cooper-Flynn's proceedings are against RTE, Mr Bird and a retired farmer, Mr James Howard, Wheaton Hall, Drogheda, Co Louth.
She alleges that, between June 19th, 1998, and July 11th, 1998, the defendants libelled her in broadcasts and that words were used in RTE interviews which meant she had advised and induced Mr Howard to evade his obligation to pay tax by investing money in a particular way.
RTE had said it wished to subpoena all 65 clients identified as having been introduced to certain financial products through Ms Cooper-Flynn while she was an NIB employee. NIB and Ms Cooper-Flynn had opposed RTE's application. for the "unmasking" of the client's names.
Yesterday, Mr James O'Callaghan, for NIB, said that having considered last week's judgment, the bank had decided not to appeal. NIB would be in a position to provide the defendants with the information regarding the 65 clients by Friday next.
Mr Justice Kelly said that, given the case was listed for hearing on July 4th, RTE would have "quite a deal of homework" to deal with. He directed that the list of the clients be provided by the bank by Wednesday evening.