Northern Ireland

PPS gets file on eight Nama fraud suspects

The PPS has received a file with the names of eight suspects connected to the NCA's Nama investigation
The PPS has received a file with the names of eight suspects connected to the NCA's Nama investigation The PPS has received a file with the names of eight suspects connected to the NCA's Nama investigation

A FILE with the names of eight fraud suspects linked to the sale of Nama's northern debt portfolio has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

Prosecutors are now examining the file from the National Crime Agency to establish whether charges should be pressed.

The NCA launched its investigation in summer 2015 after allegations of corruption involving Stormont politicians were aired by independent TD Mick Wallace in the Dáil.

Among the eight unnamed suspects is one of two people included in a file sent to the PPS in March last year. According to the PPS, a decision was taken in November not prosecute one of the two initial suspects, after the evidence examined was deemed unlikely to secure a successful conviction.

"The PPS can confirm a second file has been received in relation to complex fraud allegations investigated by the National Crime Agency," a statement said.

"A team of expert senior prosecutors has begun the process of considering this substantial file of evidence which relates to allegations against eight suspects."

The PPS said it was waiting to receive "some further material" from the NCA before making a decision on whether or not to press charges against the eight suspects.

Nama sold its £1.2 billion 'Project Eagle' Northern Ireland debt portfolio to US vulture fund Cerberus in 2014.

A year later it emerged that £7 million related to sale had been lodged in an Isle of Man bank account.