'Unable to investigate' due to legal issues says chair of IBRC investigation

The chair of the investigation into IBRC's handling of Anglo-Irish bank loans has said that legal issues are preventing him from doing his work

The government has confirmed it has received a letter from Judge Brian Cregan in which he said the commission is unable to investigate "any of the relevant write-off transactions" at the centre of the inquiry.

The investigation was established to look at IBRC's handling of Anglo-Irish Bank's loans in the wake of a controversy over the sale of SiteServ to a company owned by Denis O'Brien.

A statement from the Department of An Taoiseach has said Enda Kenny has sought legal advice from the attorney general on options that would allow the investigation to be completed.

The statement has said Judge Cregan is preparing an interim report that will outline the legal difficulties and request an extension of time.