A common informer was a person who provided evidence in criminal trials, or who prosecuted for breaches of Irish penal laws, solely for the purpose of being rewarded with the penalty recovered, or a share of it.

[5] Jonathan Swift described common informers as "a detestable race of people", while Edward Coke called them "viperous vermin".

[4] Later in the year Orpen brought a claim against another chain, but was thwarted[clarification needed] by a change in the law legalising Sunday opening for cinemas before her case could be decided.

The former penalties were not all abolished but were commuted to £100, later revised to level 3 of the standard scale,[11] though the purpose of this provision was obscure, for it was thought that not even the Crown could now bring such an action.

In May 2007 a consultative document[13] from the Home Office Ministry of John Reid raised the question of whether members of the public who informed on companies or individuals defrauding the government should be entitled to a reward.

The Plan goes on to outline, for consultation, policy proposals for taking things further, including some radical ideas to move towards the Government's long term vision of detecting up to £1 billion of criminal assets.

Submissions were obtained from the Fraud Advisory Panel,[17] the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services,[18] amongst others.