A solicitor acting for Mr Jim Stanley, the former chairman and chief executive of Bula Resources, has said his client will not be able to comply with a deadline given to him by the Government appointed inspector, Mr Lyndon MacCann, writes Colm Keena.

Mr MacCann has sent a 26-page letter and a folder of documents referred to in the letter to Mr Stanley in Moscow, in order to provide him with an opportunity to respond to some of the points raised in the letter before Mr MacCann publishes his report.

Mr Stephen Barker, of Barker Gillette solicitors, London, said his client will not be in Moscow to see the documents until today or Monday, but that Mr MacCann has said he must reply to the matters in the letter by July 20th. Mr MacCann was not available for comment. A spokeswoman for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment said Mr MacCann's report was expected some time later this month.