Anglo’s Willie McAteer avoids banking inquiry appearance

Former Anglo Irish Bank finance director Willie McAteer will not now have to appear in front of the the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry following an intervention by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr McAteer was due to appear on July 29th but his involvement in criminal proceedings has resulted in the DPP issuing a a declaration to the committee to withdraw its direction to him under section 72 of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013.

However, another former Anglo executive Peter Fitzgerald will have to appear after a representation by him to the DPP was rejected.

“Having considered the lines of inquiry on which the committee has directed that Mr Fitzgerald give evidence before it, the director [DPP] has declined to issue a declaration under section 72 to Mr Fitzgerald,” the inquiry said in a statement.

In relation to Mr McAteer, the inquiry added that the DPP was of the opinion that the direction issued could “reasonably be expected to prejudice criminal proceedings” that are pending and issued a declaration to the committee to withdraw the direction for him to appear.

The DPP had already intervened to force the inquiry to withdraw its directions to three other former Anglo executives, Seán FitzPatrick, Pat Whelan and John Bowe.