THE COMMERCIAL COURT HAS BEEN told that files arising from the criminal investigation into alleged financial irregularities at Anglo Irish Bank will be sent to the DPP towards the end of the year.

Further files will be sent forward early next year, RTÉ reports.

The court heard that the Director of Corporate Enforcement Paul Appleby is seeking an extension to complete the investigation, and that over 800 encrypted documents have already been identified.

Anglo has been asked to supply the passwords for 50 documents which appeared most relevant to the investigation.

Justice Peter Kelly granted a six-month extension, and said he expected the DPP to make a decision on the files sent to him sooner than usual because he had lawyers involved in the investigation already.

At the end of October, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said that over 400 statements had been taken by then, including one which ran for 150 typed pages.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said a 40-person team was engaged full=time with the Anglo investigation.