John Delaney denies delaying inspection of seized FAI files

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Former FAI chief executive John Delaney denied trying to delay the inspection of seized files in a sworn statement to the High Court. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds had directed him to provide the statement about his cooperation with the inspection. The proceedings were reported on 23 July 2020.

Mr Delaney said he needed more time to examine the files and identify material he claimed was private or covered by legal professional privilege. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) opposed his application for extra time.

The files included 13 hard-copy documents and a digital device containing 270,000 files. Ms Justice Reynolds directed Mr Delaney’s lawyers to give the ODCE the number of documents claimed to be privileged and a schedule listing them by early September. The case was due to return to court that month.