Jurors reach fifth day of deliberations in conspiracy to defraud trial

The jurors in a conspiracy to defraud trial have finished their fifth day of deliberations without reaching any verdicts.

Four former bankers are accused of taking part in a dishonest scheme aimed at misleading investors and depositors in Anglo Irish Bank in 2008.

The jury deliberations were put on hold yesterday after a juror became unwell but all 12 were back this morning to begin their fifth day of deliberations.

The four accused are: Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick - formerly of Irish Life & Permanent, and former Anglo bankers Willie McAteer and John Bowe.

It is the State’s case that they engaged in a dishonest scheme that involved Anglo loaning billions to Irish Life & Permanent only for it to be transferred back through Irish Life Assurance.

These so-called “back-to-back” transactions are alleged to have taken place between March and September 2008 and the prosecution believes their purpose was to instil confidence in Anglo by making its corporate deposits look €7.2bn stronger than they actually were.

The deliberations will pass the 21 hour mark when they resume in the morning.