The Irish Bank Resolution Corporation wants to use technically-assisted discovery to analyse the relevance of 1.75 million documents for its action alleging members of the Quinn family conspired to put valuable assets beyond its reach.

If the technology-assisted review of documents IBRC has identified as possibly relevant proceeds, it will be the first time this means of analysing the relevance of documents for discovery between parties will have been used in litigation in Ireland. It has been used in the US.

Karyn Harty, solicitor for IBRC, told the High Court the process was “very efficient and very accurate”, particularly where the number of documents exceeded one million. It involves a computer “learning” what document is or is not relevant.

The Quinns have two weeks to consider their attitude to the bank’s proposal.

Their counsel Charlotte Simpson said yesterday they were concerned IBRC intended to begin the process now on the understanding it would bear the costs should the court uphold any objection the Quinns may make. She said the process should not begin until the Quinns have an opportunity to consider affidavits outlining what is involved.