A Dublin solicitor has taken High Court proceedings to prevent the disclosure by AIB of the bank accounts of two clients.
The court was told the accounts were required for an investigation by the Italian authorities into the business activities of a number of Italian companies.
Ms Teresa Gavin has brought proceedings against Judge Gerard Haughton of the District Court, who was nominated by the Minister for Justice to hear the Italian request for the information, and against Allied Irish Banks. Ms Gavin claims the accounts are confidential between herself and the bank.
Yesterday Dr Michael Forde SC, for Ms Gavin, told Mr Justice Butler that the hearing of the summons issued by Judge Haughton requiring an AIB official to attend to give evidence in connection with Ms Gavin's client accounts was due to resume tomorrow.
Dr Forde argued that the application could not proceed as it required an order from the High Court to compel the bank to come to court. Mr Patrick O'Reilly, for the authorities, said the question of requiring a High Court order to compel the bank's attendance had not been put to that judge.
Mr Justice Butler adjourned the hearing for a week.