The High Court has directed that documents relating to the affairs of missing solicitor Michael Lynn be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider a prosecution for criminal contempt.
Mr Lynn , who is believed to be abroad and faces immediate arrest in the event of his return, is also the subject of "various enquiries" by the gardai, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Richard Johnson was told today.
Mr Lynn , whose liabilities are estimated at more than €80 million and whose practising certificate has bene suspended by the court, is also facing 48 charges of alleged professional misconduct following investigaitons by the internal disciplinary body of the Law Society.
He again failed to turn up in court today in connection with procedings against him by banks and the Society.
Mr Shane Murphy SC, for the Society, asked the court to refer all the papers in the case to the DPP in connection with criminal contempt proceedings in relation to Mr Lynn's non-attendance in court. The judge said he would do so.
The judge was also told the Garda had filed an affidavit about the steps taken to execute the warrant issued some weeks ago for Mr Lynn's arrest. David Keane, counsel for the Garda Commissioner, said the affidavit sets out "various enquiries still in train" but his client was was very anxious the contents of the affidavit should not be disclosed.
Mr Justice Johnson agreed the contents should not be made public at this stage but said they might at a later date.
The judge also noted that his comments last week asking about the steps being taken to effect the arrest of Mr Lynn were interpreted by some of the media as a criticism of gardai. "I did not intend to or say it was a criticism of the gardai and I am aware of the restrains under which the gardai have to work, " he stressed.
Also today,the judge directed that notice of proceedings by the Society's Disciplinary Tribunal relating to 48 charges of alleged professional misconduct by Mr Lynn could be served on him by public advertisement or by service at his home at St Alban's Park, Sandymount, Dublin.
The Society was also permitted to serve notice of its proceedings at Mr Lynn's two business properties, Kendar Holdings, in Spain and Portugal and at a third address to be given to the court.
The judge adjourned the cases before him to March 31st when, Mr Murphy said, the Society would be in a position to say what progress has been made in the pending proceedings against Mr Lynn .