Sir, - I refer to your article headed "NIB takes court action on DIRT investigation" (February 16th). In the first paragraph of that article it is stated that National Irish Bank is challenging my investigation into the bank's compliance with DIRT in the High Court. That statement is incorrect. The material in the rest of the article compounds the error.
I can inform you that there is no challenge to my investigation by NIB. On the contrary, I have had nothing but the full co-operation of NIB and of all the other relevant financial institutions since the commencement of my investigation.
I am concerned about the possible effects of your misreporting and I feel strongly that you have a duty to put the record straight in the public interest by publishing this letter in a position of equal prominence to the original article in the business section of the next edition of your newspaper.
I look forward to your confirmation that you will do so. - Yours, etc., John Purcell,
Comptroller and Auditor General, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.