Anglo inquiry a 'most complex' task

MORE THAN 100,000 documents were being analysed as part of the investigation into Anglo Irish Bank, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern told the Dáil.

These included e-mails, and telephone and bank records, he said.

“This is the most complex investigation of its kind ever undertaken in the State,” said Mr Ahern.

More than 350 people had been interviewed, resulting in lengthy witness statements. he added.

Search warrants and court orders had been executed and persons arrested, he said. Inquiries were taking place outside the State. “It is clear, therefore, that a huge amount of work has been undertaken,” said Mr Ahern. “Of its nature, the investigators must follow every avenue their inquiries lead to, so it is not possible to be precise as to when their work will be completed.”

He had been assured, he said, by the Garda Commissioner that the force had no greater priority than completing the investigation. The commissioner met regularly with the officers involved, ensuring that at all times they had every resource they required.

Mr Ahern said he well understood the fury of people at what happened at the bank. “There is understandable indignation that no one has yet been brought before the courts. It would, however, do a huge disservice to those people to pretend that there is some simple or quick way of dealing with this matter that will be effective.”

It was important, said Mr Ahern, that what happened was systematically and forensically investigated as quickly as possible, with a view to presenting cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). “That is exactly what is happening, without fear or favour.”

It was important that lessons be learned, he said, adding that he had asked the commissioner to examine the law in that area, based on the experience of the bank and other cases, and recommend changes.

Mr Ahern said the investigation was undertaken jointly by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE).

It was headed by an assistantcommissioner and the Director of Corporate Enforcement. The DPP had retained two senior and one junior counsel to advise the investigators, while 27 gardaí and 16 officers of the ODCE were assigned to the investigation.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Alan Shatter said there was “widespread public anger and incredulity at the utter failure of the State so far to initiate any criminal proceedings of any nature in respect of the Anglo fiasco”.

He suggested that events at the bank provided fertile ground for taking criminal prosecutions.

Mr Shatter asked if during the course of the investigation taking place, the possibility of criminal prosecutions had in any way been complicated or compromised by any suggestion that either the former financial regulator, the former central bank governor, Department of Finance officials, or any Government Minister, had prior knowledge of the peculiarities of the share dealings and financial structures within Anglo and, indeed, sanctioned some of those giving rise to the enormous problems confronting the State.

Mr Ahern said the investigation was being carried out without fear or favour. “I can understand the fury and outrage of the general public. I would say there is no one more outraged than members of the Cabinet who have had to deal with this issue on a daily basis since this crisis arose,” he added.

“Unfortunately, outrage is no good in a book of evidence, as you would well know. Outrage does not prove a criminal offence. What does, is the forensic examination of the scale that is going on.”