Fraud squad probes 15 bank cases

THE Director of Corporate Enforcement has referred at least 15 cases to the Garda fraud squad as part of its investigation of the banking crisis.

Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe revealed the figure as he rejected claims by Fine Gael finance spokesman Michael Noonan of political foot-dragging in the probe into Anglo Irish Bank.

But Mr O’Keeffe said it is “absolutely outrageous” that Mr Noonan would ask the Government to interfere with the judiciary in relation to the Garda probe into Anglo. “The judiciary is independent of all of the state institutions. It has to have regard for all of the rights of the individual under the constitution and surely Michael Noonan is not asking our Government to interfere with the judiciary. If he is, it is an outrageous call and a call that we reject out of hand.”