THE CENTRAL BANK has announced it is freezing its inquiry into certain matters surrounding the activities of Anglo Irish Bank – having been told by Gardaí that continuing its investigations could risk future criminal prosecutions.

In a brief statement issued last night, the bank said it had been told by Gardaí that to pursue examinations of certain topics could compromise the integrity of potential criminal cases in the future – and was duly obliging by putting some of its inquiries on ice.

“Accordingly, we have decided to defer our examination but we will keep this decision under review,” the statement said.

The bank added that it had contacted the Gardaí and the Director of Corporate Enforcement with regard to certain suspected criminal acts. It said it would continue that contact.

Its investigations into Anglo itself, and into “persons concerned with its management” will continue, however.

The announcement comes after the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Paul Appleby, said his investigation would not be finished until at least the end of 2011.

Appleby also said that the pace of his investigation was being hampered by at least ten key witnesses who are so far not cooperating with his inquiries.

The High Court’s Justice Peter Kelly has previously lashed out at the pace of the Garda and DCE inquiries into Anglo.