December date set for Anglo directors' disclosure hearing

The case of the former chairman and two former directors of Anglo Irish Bank will be mentioned again next month for a further disclosure hearing, pending the trial in January.

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 July 2008 to buy shares in the bank.

Diane Stuart BL, prosecuting, alerted the court that the State plans to apply for extra jurors under the amended Juries Act.

The new legislation, which came into effect in July, allows for up to 15 jurors to be sworn in for trials lasting longer than two months, up from the usual allowance of 12 jurors.

The trial is set to begin on January 13, 2014, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and is expected to last between three and six months.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the pre-trial hearing until December 6, when Judge Martin Nolan will deal with on-going disclosure hearings.