Delaney agrees on how documents from FAI can be inspected

THE Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) has come to an arrangement with former FAI CEO John Delaney over how the inspection of certain documents and emails seized from the association is to be conducted.

The corporate watchdog, as part of its ongoing investigation into certain matters concerning the FAI, seized a number of documents from the FAI’s offices at Abbottstown, Dublin, on foot of a search warrant in February.

In proceedings before the High Court, the ODCE is seeking to inspect these documents to see if they are relevant to its investigation.

Mr Delaney, who the court was told now lives and works in the UK, was joined as a notice party to proceedings, because some of the material taken may be private to him.

The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds yesterday.

Kerida Naidoo SC, for the ODCE, said the contents of some 13 documents and a digital device with an unknown number of emails, and which may contain information private to Mr Delaney, had been identified.

He said steps had been agreed between the parties to allow Mr Delaney, who left the FAI last September, to inspect and identify any material on the device or in the documents which he says is private.

Mr Delaney would be allowed to inspect a forensic copy of the digital device, he said.

Mr Naidoo said that any matter Mr Delaney deems private, which the ODCE considers relevant to its investigation, will be considered by just one member of the watchdog’s investigation team.

Jack Tchrakian BL, for Mr Delaney, said his client was consenting to the making of orders allowing the proposed method of examining the documents and the emails to take place.

Brian Gageby BL, for the FAI, said his client was also consenting to the orders.

After making the orders, Ms Justice Reynolds expressed her wish to see matters move forward without any further delays.

She made her comments after being informed by Mr Delaney’s counsel that he is prepared to travel to Ireland for the inspection.

There were concerns that those plans might be affected by possible Covid-19 travel restrictions.