Lawyers seek judge to deal with Anglo ‘media frenzy’

A request has been made to elect a trial judge to deal with disclosure and prevent “a media frenzy whipping up a lynch mob mentality” in relation to the upcoming trial of former Anglo Irish Bank executives.

The trial of former Anglo chairman Sean FitzPatrick and two former directors was before Judge Martin Nolan yesterday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to check on the case’s progress.

Mr FitzPatrick, aged 65, of Whitshed Road, Greystones; William McAteer, aged 62, of Auburn Villas, Rathgar; and Pat Whelan aged 51 of Coast Rd, Malahide, are charged with 16 counts of allegedly providing unlawful financial assistance to individuals to buy shares in the bank.