The Garda Fraud Squad has sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the bogus non-resident accounts operated by National Irish Bank, it emerged today.
The material in the file was gathered separately from the investigation into the bank by two High Court inspectors, accountant Mr Tom Grace and retired Supreme Court Judge John Blayney.
The fraud squad inquiry began in 1998 and involved interviews with dozens of past and present staff at NIB, as well as checks on thousands of documents.
The final decision on the file will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The 400-page report of the High Court inspectors, which was published on Friday, found that bogus non-resident accounts were in widespread use at NIB and that many customers were overcharged using improper interest and fees.
The inspectors found that 19 senior executives at NIB were aware of the practices and also made adverse findings against the bank's internal audit unit and its accountancy firm KPMG.
But a confession of wrongdoing from NIB staff cannot be used against them in a criminal trial unless it was given voluntarily, following a Supreme Court judgment.
The DPP has also received a copy of the High Court Inspectors' report from the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Mr Paul Appleby.
Mr Appleby has said he will take civil cases against the 19 senior executives named in the report to disqualify them from acting as directors in the future. Many are still working in the financial sector.
The Revenue Commissioners are also investigating the possibility of criminal prosecutions against the 19 senior executives.
PA