The PSNI has confirmed that a criminal inquiry will be launched in relation to concerns raised over the sale of Nama’s NI Property portfolio and recent claims made in the Irish parliament by Mick Wallace (pictured).
The development comes after the PSNI was under growing pressure to investigate the sale of Nama property in Northern Ireland following sensational claims last week by independent TD Mick Wallace in the Dail that leading law firm Tughans had £7 million in an off-shore account on the Isle of Man earmarked for a Northern Ireland politician.
ACC Kerr, Crime Operations PSNI, said on Wednesday: “ We believe that there is sufficient concern in relation to potential criminal activity, surrounding this property deal, to instigate an investigation.
"PSNI are now engaging with a number of other national and international law enforcement partners to consider how best to take forward this investigation”.
The Irish News has carried a number of revelations this week into the sale of Nama's portfolio - - the Dublin government's 'bad bank' - to US firm Cerberus including that it was sold at a knock-down price of £1.3 billion and that two secret meetings were held between DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Cerberus chairman Dan Quayle - former Republican Vice President to George Bush Snr.
The meetings held at Stormont Castle in March 2014 and attended by former Tughan's solicitor at the centre of the financial scandal - Ian Coulter - took place 10 days before the US investment company sealed the Nama deal.
Another meeting was held in September of last year, this time involving Peter Robinson, Dan Quayle and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Mr Coulter made a dramatic exit from the firm in January after he was caught diverting £7 million of fees, understood to be related to the Cerberus transaction, to the off-shore account.
The Irish News also revealed this week that Peter Robinson met a separate US investment company, Pimco, when it considered buying the Nama portfolio. Mr Robinson has stressed he never received any proceeds in relation to the sale.
TUV leader Jim Allister wrote to Chief Constable George Hamilton expressing his surprise that the controversial sale has not yet been investigated despite corruption allegations.
The Law Society investigated the circumstances surrounding the resignation of the former Tughan's partner and has called on Mr Wallace or any person with relevant information to make it available to the PSNI and Garda Siochana.
