State requests enlarged jury panel for bankers' trial
The State requires an enlarged jury panel to deal with the case of former Anglo Irish Bank executive William McAteer and three co-accused, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard this morning.
The four men have been charged with conspiring to mislead the bank’s investors about the true value of its deposit books.
The four men were excused from attending court this morning after a trial date was previously set for January 11, 2016.
Mr McAteer (aged 63), who has an address at Greenrath, Tipperary town, Co. Tipperary will stand trial alongside three other Anglo and Irish Life and Permanent officials.
They are: John Bowe (aged 50), from Glasnevin in Dublin, who had been head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (aged 54), from Raheny, Dublin, who was chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent (IL&P) until 2009 and Peter Fitzpatrick (aged 61), from Malahide, Dublin, who had been IL&P’s former director of finance.
They have been charged with conspiring to mislead investors by transferring €7.2bn to make the bank appear more valuable between March to September 2008.
Mr Bowe and Mr McAteer also face one additional charge each that they falsified accounts contrary to section 10 of the Theft and Fraud Act.
The case was listed for mention before Judge Mary Ellen Ring today to monitor the progress of disclosure.
Counsel for the prosecution, Diana Stuart BL, said the first stage of disclosure is almost complete and requested a new date for mention to allow for the process to be continually monitored.
Ms Stuart said the State would also like to make an application for an enlarged jury panel to deal with the trial and said she was putting the court service on notice of this fact.
Four representatives of the defence legal teams told Judge Ring that they were in agreement with the prosecution’s submissions.
Judge Ring adjourned the case to July 1, next for mention and confirmed that the accused men’s attendance was again excused for that date.
