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    Ireland eyes charges in Anglo Irish probe by March

    DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland may bring charges within two months over suspected fraud at Anglo Irish Bank, in what would be the first fruits of a long-running probe into the defunct lender at the heart of Ireland's financial collapse, a court heard on Tuesday.

    The investigation into events leading up to the nationalisation of the lender, including whether deposits were used to mask large withdrawals, has been running for three years and the government has been heavily criticised for the slow progress.

    A lawyer for Director for Public Prosecutions Una Ni Raifeartaigh told Dublin's Commercial Court there were "five separate but interlinked" investigations, one of which is near completion, and charges could be brought within a month of two.

    "One can understand why it (the probe) may seem long, when one considers the scale and novelty of it, the fact is it is novel and unprecedented," Ni Raifeartaigh said.

    "There is a broad range of offences under consideration, some of which may never have been considered before in this jurisdiction and raise legal issues."

    The court accepted a request by the director of corporate enforcement and the police to extend the investigation for a further six months due to the complexity of the matter. It will be back before the court on July 27.

    Justice Peter Kelly said he was glad a previous decision not to bring charges until all five strands of the investigation had concluded was no longer "set in stone."

    The delay in charging those responsible has frustrated Irish taxpayers who have pumped 63 billion euros (53 billion pounds) -- the equivalent of more than a third of the country's annual economic output -- into the banking sector to keep it afloat after a devastating property crash.

    Anglo, the first Irish bank to be nationalised amid a string of scandals three years ago, has changed its name to Irish Bank Resolution Corp (IBRC) as it winds itself down over the next 10 years, having cost the state almost 30 billion euros.

    (Reporting by Sarah O'Conn)

     

    18 comments

    • tom  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  27 days ago
      will they bring to task the government ministers who were involved
    • S  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  28 days ago
      We shall expect a thorough forensic analysis of the debacle caused by the Anglo Irish Bank AND a full report of the findings published. It goes without saying, we also expect to see those responsible brought to justice and heads roll over this - the worst financial disaster in the history of the Irish State. Sadly, I don't trust Fine Gael to deliver on either but we'll see.

      The Anglo Irish Bank was NOT a systemic bank and should have been let go under. It should never have come to this. Fine Gael/Labour have let the country down by perpetuating the mess Fianna Fail caused.
    • ButlerReport  •  Miami, United States  •  27 days ago
      I smell 'tribunal' and lots of cash going onto the Barrister gravy train. Oh and no prison time for anyone.
    • joe  •  Cork, Ireland  •  28 days ago
      Is there any chance of getting Bill Black over from America to prosecute ?Or will it be a complete white wash paid for by the very people that are paying for this immoral situation all ready ,you and me the tax payer.
    • Gerry  •  27 days ago
      the irish public did not pump diddly squat into the bank crisis. i has been syphoned off from us. get the facts right , if i pump money into something i am agreeing to it. if a government takes money from me to pay back a debt i am not responsible for . that is called under duress.
    • jackeen  •  27 days ago
      Lets hope that these are real and meaningful prosecutions and not merely another whitewash to hoodwink the people of Ireland. In addition to the Anglo fraudsters we also want to see all the other bankers who were responsible for destroying this economy brought to justice, irrespective of who they are or with whom in high places are they closely associated.
    • freethinking  •  27 days ago
      Can someone please tell me where the billions of monies in natural resources are going each year? surely you dont beleive our economy is just run on taxs alone,Our treasury needs to be Audited we need to see the books.We need to see what our Gov is hiding.all our natural resources go to Britain to be refined,billions each year,why is it we cant refine our own natural resources?Copper Zinc Oil Gas so on.Where is all our timber from our woodlands going,and where is the money from that,is it true we supply the world with 25% of its copper,and 11% of its zinc,is it true that 75% of irish goods is sourced by English Corporations.Is it true that the famine has ended?Or has the famine just been remanufactured,and we are to blind to see,its used to be food cattle wheat,but now it seems to be our natural resources and taxs that are being forcably removed,and instead of shipping us off to Australia,we are doing that for them,we volantarily leave our own land.Wake up fools the famine is just beginning.Has anyone done a background check on or politicians,did you know that the people who count the votes on referendum and election get a thousand euros a day and are selected by the people in the know,anyone should be allowed to enter as a vote counter.But these vote counters are selected year in year out,and are usually young and nieve with a few elderly in the know.Like I say the famine is just beginning.
    • Nollaig  •  Limerick, Ireland  •  28 days ago
      Heads should roll!
    • conan  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  27 days ago
      Just one head on a stick please. Wheres that b@stard Cromwell when u need him
    • Mackay  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  27 days ago
      Will we see those b*stards led away in cuffs to serve jail sentences? Like hell we will. Now if they happen to be old age pensioners who haven't paid their TV licence fee or dare I say it, the household tax, then they might end up behind bars. This a corrupt and immoral State. Pearse and Connolly and the patriots who died for Irish freedom, must be turning in their graves.
    • martin t  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  27 days ago
      I can predict a large bucket of whitewash and brush being ordered.
    • Rosemount  •  Limerick, Ireland  •  26 days ago
      In the U.S. those responsible were arrested and charged. In Ireland the give them bonuses and invite them to come and talk to a government committee.
    • Bren  •  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  •  27 days ago
      The chances of any of us seeing justice been done here are remote.
    • I hate face book  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  27 days ago
      I predict a very clever escape clause that under the rules at the time no one broke any rules. They will all be told don’t do it again and be sent home. While some ordinary Joe will get three months for having no TV license. But I’ll never understand why a transvestite would need a license
    • Anthony  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  27 days ago
      No one will ever serve time for this its far to big.
    • tcmmcm  •  Sligo, Ireland  •  26 days ago
      Look boys stop talking it up. this is not rocket science. Follow the money. Stop being sidetracked by other things its like a bean under the three cups trick. Follow the money. Thats how you will get these culprits. Otherwise if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
    • Stiff Lower Lip  •  27 days ago
      Greek haircut please and be quick about it , you donkeys
    • George  •  Dublin, Ireland  •  26 days ago
      The first person to be charged,should be kenny himself.Telling us we have to cut back and tighten our belt and then he gave his pal a 35thou raise,an adviser,,one of 5,,If the clown had any idea at all he would need 5 bloody advisers,,So charge him with fraud.He wanted to be the leader,Gave us the impression he knew what he was doing and now we know he has,nt a clue.Then telling the folks in davos that we irish people spent all the money and destroyed the country.He should be in jail awaiting trial for treason and handcuffed to clown cowan. The stupid pratt.