Judge rejects bid to postpone trial of Sean FitzPatrick

A judge has ruled that the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick can go ahead in October.

Lawyers for FitzPatrick had argued that the publicity surrounding the trial of three former Anglo officials, which concluded last week, saw a "cascade of sludge" visited on his head.

In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan said that Mr Fitzpatrick had been the subject of criticism, ridicule and odium since 2008.

Judge Nolan said he believed that Fitzpatrick could get a fair trial, and that as a result, the trial should go ahead on October 5.

Mr Fitzpatrick has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act.

He has denied making misleading, false or deceptive statements to auditors and furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007.