Mary Harney has denied that she shut down an inquiry into tax evasion.

It comes after Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald today identified six former politicians who are named in a dossier on alleged tax evasion.

Five of the six people named have issued denials.

In a statement this evening, Mary Harney said at no point was she ever "influenced by any of the many names" brought to her attention by the Authorised Officer in the course of his seven year investigation".

She said she "made it clear, regardless of who might have been involved, it had to be investigated correctly and thoroughly".