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Application to postpone FitzPatrick trial is rejected

Sean FitzPatrick's lawyers wanted his trial postponed
Sean FitzPatrick's lawyers wanted his trial postponed

The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick will go ahead on 5 October.

Lawyers for Mr FitzPatrick wanted to adjourn the trial because of recent publicity surrounding the trial of three ex-Anglo officials.

They claimed that trial has caused a "cascade of sludge" to be visited on Mr FitzPatrick's head.

However, Judge Martin Nolan rejected the application this morning saying Mr FitzPatrick had received adverse publicity since 2008, but he believed he would be able to get a fair trial from an impartial jury.

He said an adjournment had been sought to allow the adverse publicity heaped on Mr FitzPatrick fade, however he said between now and October, lots of heroes and villains would be produced.

He said lots of sporting occasions, including All-Ireland finals and the Rugby World Cup, as well as political events would take place.

Judge Nolan said it was his belief that jurys take their role very seriously and would listen to the case in an impartial way.

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.