Key players yet to face gardai as 100 quizzed
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MORE than half of the witnesses in the Anglo Irish Bank investigation have now been interviewed by officers from the Garda Fraud Bureau.
But key figures such as former Anglo chairman Sean FitzPatrick have yet to be interrogated.
Gardai are waiting until their inquiries near completion before contacting Mr FitzPatrick and other crucial players in the controversy, including former chief executive David Drumm.
Officers have set a target of late spring for the completion of a file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will determine if criminal charges should be brought.
Files
More than 100 witnesses have already spoken to the fraud team, which has been beefed up by Commissioner Fachtna Murphy. He has promised that the files would be sent to the DPP "at the earliest opportunity".
Gardai are looking for evidence of any breaches of the Companies Act and the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. A person found guilty of offences under the legislation faces a sentence of up to 10 years.
The investigation, led by Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne, has been focusing on the movement of €7.45bn in deposits between Anglo Irish and Irish Life and Permanent to bolster Anglo's books.
It is also probing an allegation that attempts were made to conceal details of loans to Mr FitzPatrick from the shareholders and the controversial loan of €450m to a "golden circle" of 10 investors.
- Tom Brady Security Editor
Irish Independent
