THE NATIONAL Asset Management Agency (Nama) will be contacted by gardaí over an allegation that banks provided the agency with misleading information about their loan books.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has written to Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath, who made a complaint about the matter, to say that a senior officer will speak to the agency to see what evidence of a criminal offence is available.

His complaint followed a meeting of the public accounts committee last month which was addressed by Nama chief executive Brendan McDonagh and its chairman Frank Daly.

During the November 18th meeting Mr McGrath said there was a need to investigate whether “false, misleading information” was provided to the agency in a systematic way.

Mr McDonagh said he did not disagree with the points being made by Mr McGrath.

Michael DArcy of Fine Gael asked Mr Daly if he believed the banks had attempted fraud. Mr Daly replied: “The figures were certainly misleading. You can speculate as to what was behind it.”