Sean FitzPatrick trial told search warrants were unlawful

Warrants obtained by gardaí to search banking premises for evidence during investigations into events at Anglo Irish Bank in 2008 were unlawful and unconstitutional, a jury has heard.

Lawyers for the bank’s former chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 68, told the jury at his trial that despite the searches being unlawful, they would still see the relevant evidence that was seized.

Mr FitzPatrick, of Whitshed Rd, Greystones, Co Wicklow, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of misleading auditors about multimillion-euro loans between 2002 and 2007.