The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed that the police investigation of Mr Cahill, over allegations of perverting the course of justice, will not result in a prosecution.

Mr Cahill welcomed the news yesterday, saying that his name had now been cleared by the decision, while his lawyer said the delay in finalising the matter had been ''inordinate.''

The prosecutors' decision, more than 10 months after police raided Mr Cahill's chambers, came after the ACT DPP referred the case to its NSW counterpart for a ''second opinion'' to avoid any apprehension of bias or conflict of interest.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White advised MrCahill's legal team yesterday that there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction in the matter and therefore no prosecution would be pursued.

Mr Cahill has never been charged with any offence arising from the allegations that he acted improperly in an assault case against a public figure, who cannot be named for legal reasons and who was known both professionally and personally to the former chief magistrate.

Mr Cahill resigned from his post in November last year, just weeks before he was due to retire, because of ill-health. He had been under investigation for several weeks after two of his colleagues on the Magistrates Bench, John Burns, who is now Chief Magistrate, and Karen Fryar, who is now Childrens' Magistrate, made a complaint to Attorney-General Simon Corbell, alleging improper behaviour by MrCahill in the assault case.

Mr Cahill, who was undergoing surgery at the time, was immediately stood down and a Judicial Commission appointed, but he resigned and the commission was disbanded.

Mr Cahill was scathing of the delay in making the decision.

''After 10 months and six days I am relieved that no action is to be taken, and am delighted to have my name cleared, with my reputation intact,'' he said.

''This period has been the most challenging of my life. I could not have coped without the overwhelming support of my wife Mary, and daughter Catherine. I am also grateful to my friends and the many members of the Canberra community who sent messages of support.''

For more on this story, including details of Mr Cahill's lawyer's bid to have the DPP drop the case months ago, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.