The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank executives is due to begin at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning before a jury of eight men and seven women.
Seán FitzPatrick (65), of Greystones, Co Wicklow; William McAteer (63), of Rathgar, Dublin; and Pat Whelan (51), of Malahide, Dublin have pleaded not guilty to 16 charges each of unlawfully providing financial assistance to individuals for the purpose of buying shares in Anglo Irish Bank in 2008. Each charge relates to a specific person who allegedly received financial assistance between July 10th and July 17th, 2008.
Judge Martin Nolan told jurors last week that the trial could take four months. A list of possible witnesses, which runs to 104 names, includes Seán Quinn snr and other members of his family as well as the 10 other borrowers mentioned in the charges. Other listed witnesses include 42 gardaí.
On most days, members of the public will be able to watch proceedings by video link in Court 1 at the Criminal Courts of Justice, which is usually a District Court.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard the case involves 24 million documents, including about 800 witness statements.
At the time of the alleged offences, Mr FitzPatrick was chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, Mr McAteer was finance director and chief risk officer and Mr Whelan was managing director of lending in Ireland.
Mr Whelan has pleaded not guilty to seven additional charges of being privy to fraudulently altered loan facility letters sent to seven of the borrowers relating to the purchase of shares of Anglo.
