Cayman court to rule on Irish Ansbacher request

A court in the Cayman Islands is expected to rule later today on whether the names and details of Irish Ansbacher account holders should be released to High Court inspectors.

Under Cayman law, it is an offence to give out such information without permission from local courts.

When this case was heard last month in private, there were at least three objectors, some of whom were Irish.

If the court agrees, the work of the inspectors could be speeded up considerably.

At present, their report is due by the end of the year. It is believed there are around 120 Ansbacher deposits held by Irish citizens, including former Fianna Fail TD Denis Foley and former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.