Over 24m documents for Anglo trial

The trial of the former chairman and two former directors of Anglo Irish Bank could run for over three months and involves 24m documents in evidence, a court has heard.

Sean Fitzpatrick, aged 64, William McAteer, aged 62, and Pat Whelan, aged 50, have been charged with 16 counts of providing unlawful financial assistance to individuals in Jul 2008 to buy shares in the bank.

After hearing that there will inevitably be issues with the disclosure of evidence, Judge Mary Ellen Ring fixed a trial date for the first day of term in 2014.

She also gave Mr Fitzpatrick, of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Mr McAteer of Auburn Villas, Rathgar and Mr Whelan of Coast Road, Malahide, a further mention date of Mar 6 to deal with any matters arising. She remanded them on continuing bail on the existing terms and conditions.

Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, prosecuting, told Judge Ring at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the disclosure of evidence to the defence was continuing. She said it was lengthy and complex and could take months. She said it was not simply a question of providing the defence with the documents but that it was necessary to give the defence an opportunity to absorb them.

Brendan Grehan, defending Mr Whelan, said there were 24m documents to be considered as part of the State’s investigation and he said that issues would inevitably arise as part of this. He said the trial was likely to run for three months or even double that and that it was likely to be considerably more complex than any previous case.

Ms Ní Raifeartaigh asked the court to appoint a designated judge to deal with pre-trial applications in respect of disclosure issues. She said that under the circumstances it would be very useful.

Judge Ring said that if the disclosure of evidence could not be completed in a year that there was something wrong with the system, and set the trial date for Jan 13, 2014.