In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Irish Life and Permanent chief dealer David Gantly testified about a 2008 Central Bank meeting where senior treasury heads from six major Irish banks were advised to issue bonds that would be purchased by each other to boost market confidence. Gantly said the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator encouraged this practice, noting it was not unusual for banks to support one another on bonds, but the level of support was unusually high. He confirmed that the arrangement was not disclosed to the market. The testimony was part of the trial of David Drumm, 51, who faces charges of conspiracy to defraud Anglo Irish Bank by falsely claiming deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. The trial is in its eleventh week before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, is currently on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to two charges. He is alleged to have conspired with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. Additionally, he faces a charge of false accounting for allegedly furnishing the market with this inflated deposit figure on December 3, 2008. On day 55 of the trial, David Gantly, chief dealer at Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), testified that the Financial Regulator was unhappy that ILP received funding from the European Central Bank during the 2008 crisis. Gantly stated that the regulator was uncomfortable with ILP's reliance on this safety net and did not want the bank openly disclosing its borrowings to the market. He further testified that ILP officials, including Casey, were encouraged by the Regulator to engage in transactions with Anglo, which Gantly described as not a normal type of transaction. The trial is in its eleventh week before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. The matter is ongoing and has not been finalised.
During the 54th day of David Drumm's trial, a jury heard that senior Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) bankers were "scared shitless" as €7.2 bn transactions with Anglo Irish Bank were carried out in September 2008. Paul Kane, former Head of Liquidity at ILP, testified that he personally supervised the deals and that the senior ILP officers, including Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick, were reluctant to proceed. Kane described phone calls with former ILP treasury head David Gantley, who said the men were "scared stiff" and that the arrangement was not a proper business practice. Kane also noted that Anglo had previously increased ILP's credit limit to €820 m and was disappointed that the favour could not be reciprocated. Drumm, former CEO of Anglo, admits the transactions occurred but denies they were fraudulent or dishonest. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
Lea Peacock, 25, of Rush, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to careless driving causing the death of Jane Dardis at Rush Road, Skerries, on October 25, 2016. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Peacock to a nine-month suspended sentence and disqualified him from driving for five years. The judge concluded Peacock did not deserve a custodial sentence, noting the accused had no previous convictions, was remorseful, and had cooperated with gardai. Judge Nolan found the explanation that Peacock swerved to avoid a pedestrian to be unbelievable, instead attributing the swerve to the interplay between the driver and the front-seat passenger. The court heard Peacock had consumed four glasses of wine and was travelling at 80km/h in a 60km/h zone. In mitigation, counsel highlighted Peacock's remorse and lack of intentional wrongdoing. The judge expressed condolences to the deceased's family, who described themselves as devastated. The maximum penalty for the offence is two years' imprisonment. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the suspended sentence and driving disqualification.
In a 2018 trial, a senior banker at Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), Peter Fitzpatrick, instructed that the €7.2 billion transaction with Anglo Irish Bank be formally documented to protect ILP from potential exposure. Fitzpatrick, during a 2008 phone call with former ILP liquidity manager Paul Kane, emphasized the need for standard banking language to avoid confusion and ensure a binding agreement. The call, recorded on Kane's line, highlighted concerns that without documentation ILP could be "massively exposed" if the deal were questioned. Evidence included an email approving a €1 billion transaction in March 2008, with Fitzpatrick noting Central Bank encouragement. The case involved David Drumm, former Anglo CEO, who pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges related to the alleged overstatement of Anglo's 2008 deposits. The trial continued in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court under Judge Karen O'Connor.
During the 52nd day of David Drumm's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank non‑executive director Michael Jacob testified that the bank sourced "excellent people" to conduct "healthy checks and balances" amid the 2008 financial crisis. Jacob explained that Anglo's financial reporting had evolved and that the bank had engaged the firm PWC to review its audit and risk committees, ensuring no overlaps or gaps. He described the period as an "exceptional time" in international finance, noting the disappearance of major companies and the resulting funding challenges. Jacob also recounted attending a board meeting on 24 October 2008, where he could not recall any discussion of the Anglo‑Irish Life & Permanent transaction, which was first documented in a PWC report circulated to directors. The trial, now in its tenth week, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm, who faces conspiracy to defraud charges, has been ongoing since January. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that she is very hopeful the proceedings will conclude at the beginning of June. The jury began hearing evidence on February 9 after initial legal arguments. Drumm's barrister, Tessa White, acknowledged that multi‑million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent in 2008 but denied they were fraudulent. On day 51, former Anglo treasury director Peter Geisel testified that Credit Suisse had rejected a "back‑to‑back deal" proposal in the summer of 2008. The trial, now in its tenth week, continues before Judge O'Connor and the jury. Drumm, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud and false accounting for the 2008 deposit figures. The case remains in the trial stage.
In a criminal hearing at Dublin Circuit Court, former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was accused of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by misrepresenting the bank's deposit levels. Drumm, who signed a statement to the Irish Stock Exchange on 3 December 2008, claimed that customer funding had risen to €51.5 bn, a figure that was later alleged to be inflated by €7.2 bn. He admitted that multi‑million‑euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) in 2008 but denied any fraud or dishonesty. Dermot Kieran, a former finance manager, testified that he learned of the transactions after they happened and that Drumm had asked him to sketch the balance sheet and forecast it for September 2008. Michael Casey, ILP's treasury manager, confirmed that a £978 m sterling transaction with Anglo on 25 September 2008 was authorised by temporarily overriding the credit limit. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr David Drumm, 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges related to Anglo Irish Bank's 2008 deposits. He claimed that external auditors Ernst & Young issued a clean opinion on the bank's year‑end accounts, though he suggested a qualified opinion could have been issued. Drumm admitted that multi‑million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) in 2008 but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest. Witness Kevin Kelly, an accountant, testified that Ernst & Young auditors entered Anglo's headquarters in November 2008 and that the audit team had been briefed beforehand. Kelly also noted that the transaction with ILP was described as "technically sound" and that he was only informed of its details in 2009. The trial, now on day 43, is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women.
During a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank executive Declan Quilligan testified that he witnessed a banker crying at a foreign investment meeting in Amsterdam in September 2008 after Lehman Brothers collapsed. Quilligan, who was present at the meeting, described the banker's distress as a result of having invested in Lehman Brothers a few days earlier, leading to a "corporate run" on Anglo. He also explained that Anglo's funding initiatives had fallen away and that the market had worsened due to Lehman's demise, causing the bank's balance sheet to appear weaker at year‑end. Quilligan agreed with the defense that Anglo had been a successful bank up to 2007 and that actions taken during the credit crisis could be misinterpreted. He further discussed the bank's interactions with Irish Life & Permanent and the Central Bank's role in the crisis.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges. He is accused of colluding with ex‑bank officials to defraud depositors by falsely claiming Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. Drumm also faces a false accounting charge for providing misleading information on December 3 2008. The trial, now in its seventh week, focuses on evidence that Anglo's €7.2 billion transactions with Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) were not fraudulent, as Drumm's former chief executive admits. Key evidence includes recorded phone calls from September 2008 where former liquidity head Ciaran McArdle discusses the back‑to‑back loan with ILP, noting that other funding options had failed and that ILP was the only viable source. The case is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
David Drumm, the former head of liquidity at Anglo Irish Bank, is currently on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to two charges. He is accused of conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. Additionally, he faces a charge of false accounting on December 3, 2008, for allegedly furnishing the market with this inflated deposit figure. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, is in its sixth week. On day 40, the jury heard evidence from Ciaran McArdle, who told the financial regulator in a recorded October 2008 call that a €7.2 billion transaction with Irish Life and Permanent was not a real number and that the bank was manipulating its balance sheet for year-end accounts. Prosecutors presented McArdle's statements regarding the nature of the transaction as a repo deal. The matter remains ongoing before the jury, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
During the trial of David Drumm for conspiracy to defraud, former Anglo Irish Bank finance head Colin Golden testified that he was unaware that the €7.2 billion transactions with Irish Life and Permanent were a straight cash exchange without underlying security until after they occurred. Golden said he first learned of the scale and nature of the deals in early October 2008, after being told they were collateralised. He recounted that Ciaran Cunningham informed him of the €7.2 billion deal on 30 September 2008 and that he later forwarded details to Mary Burke at the Financial Regulator. Golden also noted that Ernst & Young auditors had been briefed on the transactions and that Vincent Bergin described them as "technically sound." He expressed surprise at the regulator's hostile reaction and explained that he did not grasp the significance of who placed the money first until months later.
During the 36th day of David Drumm's conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial, former Anglo Irish Bank chief financial officer Matt Moran told the jury he was shocked by the regulator's hostile reaction to Anglo's transactions with Irish Life and Permanent. He said that at a meeting on 12 or 13 January 2009, the regulator suddenly asked him questions as if it had no knowledge of the transactions, which he had believed the regulator was aware of. Moran recounted that after the meeting he contacted Drumm, who had left Anglo, to confirm the regulator's awareness. Drumm's email, shown to the jury, indicated that Anglo's balance‑sheet management was a common practice and that the regulator was fully aware of the bank's actions. Moran noted that if the ILP transaction had not proceeded, it could have been fatal for Anglo, potentially eroding confidence in the bank. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury.
During day 36 of David Drumm's conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial, the jury heard an extract from a September 2008 phone call between former Anglo Irish Bank CFO Matt Moran and former Anglo head of capital markets John Bowe. The men discussed how to persuade Credit Suisse banker Ewen Stevenson to sign a "beer mat" and to facilitate a transaction that would move €7.2 billion in Anglo's favour. Moran said he would try to "get a bit of drink into him" and then say, "I'd like about five billion before the 30th." Bowe suggested they could "get him to sign the beer mat" and that Anglo would place money with Credit Suisse, possibly using a single set of cash. The conversation was recorded by the bank, and Moran confirmed that the transaction had not yet taken place. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. Credit Suisse pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo, admitted that €7.2 billion worth of transactions between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) occurred in 2008 but denied that they were fraudulent or dishonest. He explained that he had written to senior Anglo colleagues in November 2008 urging a "war cabinet urgency" to address liquidity issues, and that he had asked his staff to "look under every rock" as liquidity fell. Witness Matt Moran, former chief financial officer at Anglo, testified that Drumm had discussed the ILP transaction with the regulator and that the bank's government guarantee had eased pressure on its funding position. Drumm has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud depositors and investors and to false accounting regarding the 2008 deposits. The case is still pending before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In March 2008, David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, urged executives to hold a conference call to "zoom in" on achieving the bank's target of €5 billion in customer deposits for the half‑year ending March. Mr Drumm, who is on trial for conspiracy to defraud, told the jury that Anglo was primarily a lending bank, not a treasury, and that in 2008 €7.2 billion of transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP). He disputes that these were fraudulent. Former chief financial officer Matt Moran testified that by late 2007 Anglo was run by "lending people" and that executives sought funding from banks they had relationships with. Meetings were held in Mr Drumm's office to discuss "special balance sheet initiatives" aimed at increasing funding or capital and reducing lending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the jury was informed that the €7.2 billion transactions between Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent in September 2008 were "optical benefit only" and created no new cash. Former Anglo treasury manager Ciaran Cunningham, who testified on day 34 of David Drumm's conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial, confirmed the transactions took place but disputed any fraud or dishonesty. Cunningham explained that the deals were netted and would not appear in the accounts, that they were "cash neutral," and that the only benefit was optical. He noted the transactions were initially settled gross but later settled net, a fact he learned in February 2009. Drumm, the former chief executive, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, and the trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
In the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, former company secretary Natasha Mercer testified that she sought legal advice after the bank's chairman, Donal O'Connor, asked her to amend the minutes of an audit‑committee meeting held on 18 November 2008. Mercer explained that she had written down different wording than what O'Connor recalled, and that her lawyers advised her that the chairman's signed minutes were the definitive record. She denied that O'Connor had ever told her to "shut up" when she challenged him about the minutes. Mercer also noted that her handwritten minutes of three September 2008 board meetings mentioned the Irish Life & Permanent transactions, whereas her typed minutes did not. The court heard that the final wording of the minutes described the ILP transactions as normal year‑end balance‑sheet activity, with no objections from the Financial Regulator or Ernst & Young.
During the 30th day of David Drumm's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury heard recordings of phone calls made in September 2008 between Drumm, former Anglo Irish Bank director John Bowe, and other bank officials. The calls, recorded by the bank for business purposes, were played to show Drumm's discussions with Bowe about seeking emergency funding from the Central Bank and the bank's liquidity situation. Drumm referred to the regulator as "Freddie fucking Fly" and described the bank's financial state as "still f***ed," noting a €14 bn liquidity shortfall. He also talked about the bank's balance‑sheet manipulation and the need to present a simplified cash‑flow statement to the regulator. Drumm pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges related to the 2008 deposit figures. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges. Drumm claimed the Central Bank and the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority were fully aware of Anglo's actions to protect itself in September 2008, citing an email to former CFO Matt Moran. He alleged that the regulator and the bank had been informed of Anglo's efforts to create the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. Drumm also stated that the Central Bank governor urged Anglo to engage with other Irish banks for an intra‑Ireland market, and that Anglo had a good relationship with Irish Life and Permanent. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury of ten men and four women. The case remains at the pleading stage, with no verdict yet.
The former company secretary of Anglo Irish Bank admitted to amending audit committee minutes to include a reference to a transaction with Irish Life and Permanent after being asked by bank executives. She said that Donal O'Connor, the bank's chairman, had told her that he and two other executives had discussed the matter and that the minutes should reflect their recollection of a discussion about ILP. She also noted that the minutes should state that the ILP customer account had been discussed and that balance‑sheet management was normal. The amendment was made after O'Connor sent an email on 17 February 2009, recalling the November 2008 meeting. The jury heard that the secretary had checked her own notes and was satisfied that the transaction had been discussed before including it in the final minutes. The trial of former Anglo CEO David Drumm, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor.
During the trial of David Drumm, the jury heard that Anglo Irish Bank's audit committee was an independent watchdog tasked with overseeing management. Former company secretary Natasha Mercer said the committee's role was to challenge management if activities were not appropriate and that all members had substantial accountancy experience. Drumm, 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting on 3 December 2008. The court heard that Drumm accepts the facts of the 2008 transactions between Anglo and Irish Life and Permanent but disputes that they were fraudulent or dishonest. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues before a jury of ten men and four women.
In the first week of David Drumm's conspiracy to defraud trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the former head of treasury risk at Anglo Irish Bank, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by creating the impression that Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting on 3 December 2008. Michael Nurse, a witness, explained that Anglo's treasury credit committee met weekly to approve interbank credit limits, with a fast‑track process requiring only one senior manager's sign‑off for certain transactions. A €1 billion transaction with Irish Life and Permanent on 31 March 2008 was fast‑tracked and exceeded ILP's credit limit by 400 %. The €7.2 billion transaction on 30 September 2008 was approved "post transaction" by Drumm and Willie McAteer, with no signature required at the time.
During the trial of David Drumm, former Anglo Irish Bank executive Brian Lynch testified that the plan to cover a funding shortfall grew from €1 bn to €7 bn in the weeks before the bank's year‑end. Lynch said Drumm had aimed for a year‑end deposit figure of €55–56 bn, with a shortfall of about €7 bn. He explained that the only viable funding option left was a deal with Irish Life Assurance (ILP), which involved transferring money to ILP's banking arm in exchange for corporate deposits that would improve the bank's balance sheet. Lynch first learned of the deal in August 2008, when the target figure was €1 bn, and by mid‑September it had risen to €7 bn. He also noted that Drumm had asked for an ad‑hoc liquidity report in October 2008, which the Central Bank did not challenge. The trial continues with Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
During a 2018 trial, former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud and false accounting involving €7.2 billion in 2008. The case centred on a proposed €750 million short‑term loan between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP). Senior Anglo executive John Bowe testified that the Financial Regulator was "more or less…not looking" at the loan, and that the regulator's stance was effectively a non‑intervention. Witness Matt Cullen, former treasury director at Anglo, described the unusual size of the loans and the discussions with the regulator and other banks about how Irish banks would support each other during the global market downturn. Cullen also recounted a conversation with ILP's David Gantly about structuring the loan into smaller transactions to avoid scrutiny. Drumm's defence acknowledged the transactions but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest.
During the trial of David Drumm, former Anglo Treasury head Matt Cullen testified that on the evening of 29 September 2008 he personally delivered a letter to the Central Bank requesting over €1 billion in emergency funding. Cullen explained that Anglo was short of cash and could not meet payment obligations the following day. He recounted that after the bank's share price fell sharply following the "St Patrick's Day Massacre," discussions began in late March 2008 among Anglo, the Financial Regulator, the Central Bank and other banks about mutual assistance. Cullen said he was asked to seek funding ideas, and that he received calls from Central Bank officials and from David Gantley of Irish Life and Permanent about a potential €3 billion repo. He described weekly financial incentive meetings that became routine from June 2008, culminating in Friday afternoon briefings in Drumm's office. The trial, presided over by Judge O'Connor, continues before a jury of ten men and five women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty. Matt Cullen pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, witness Matt Cullen, ex‑Treasury head, testified that he sensed impending trouble after a colleague warned that the interbank market was "drying up." Cullen agreed with prosecutor Paul O'Higgins that tremors were beginning to reverberate across the financial world. He recounted that in 2007, following a meeting with the Central Bank Governor and the Financial Regulator, Drumm formed a group to explore funding incentives, led by John Bowe. On 16 March 2008, Cullen received an email from Drumm inviting him to a St Patrick's Day executive meeting to discuss how Anglo could collaborate with other banks, possibly pooling resources into a 12‑month facility. Cullen noted that global market rumours at the time affected banks' ability to attract funds. Drumm, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges, claiming the alleged transactions were not dishonest.
In February 2018, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court fined Felix O'Hare Contractors €25,000 plus costs for breaching health and safety standards at a construction site on Harbour Road, Skerries, Co Dublin. The company had failed to erect appropriate barriers, allowing amateur photographer Harvey Wolfe (54) to enter the site. Wolfe was caught between a hoarding and an excavator moving stones, sustaining crush injuries that proved fatal. The court heard Wolfe's mother, Patricia Wolfe, who expressed that her son would not want his death to harm his "comrades" on the site. Judge Martin Nolan noted the company's good record but stressed that Wolfe should not have been allowed on site that day and that stronger preventive measures were required. The Health and Safety Authority inspector highlighted the lack of interlocking plastic fencing and traffic control. The company has since increased its health and safety officers from one to three. Felix O'Hare Contractors pleaded guilty.
David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges. His defence counsel admitted that Drumm authorised a series of transactions in 2008 that inflated the bank's deposits by €7.2 billion. The transactions, described as "March", "June", "September" and "December" deals, involved moving large sums between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent to increase Anglo's non‑bank deposits and reduce Irish Life's reliance on ECB funding. Drumm admitted to authorising these transactions but disputed that they were fraudulent or dishonest. The trial, held before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, focuses on whether the transactions were intended to falsify the bank's balance sheet. The case remains ongoing, with no verdict yet reached.
During the opening of David Drumm's conspiracy to defraud trial, the jury was told that Drumm, then chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, authorised deals that falsified the bank's balance sheet. Prosecutors described him as "the man who called the shots" and said the deals made it appear that customer deposits were €7.2 billion greater than they actually were. Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by creating the impression of larger deposits in 2008. The prosecution presented recorded phone conversations in which Drumm gave permission for money to "pass go," adding several billion euros in non‑existent customer deposits that circulated rapidly between Anglo, Irish Life & Permanent and Irish Life Assurance before returning to Anglo. The case was presented by Paul O'Higgins SC, and the trial continued in front of Judge Karen O'Connor.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm has commenced. Drumm, aged 51 and residing in Skerries, Co Dublin, is accused of conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others to defraud depositors and investors by falsely presenting Anglo's 2008 deposits as €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. He has pleaded not guilty to both the conspiracy charge and to false accounting for the same alleged misrepresentation. The prosecution, led by Paul O'Higgins SC, began its opening speech to a jury of ten men and five women, explaining that the jury will act as 15 independent judges of the facts but that only 12 will ultimately deliberate on the verdicts. O'Higgins emphasized that Drumm is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves its case beyond reasonable doubt. The case is expected to last three to five months, following a prior jury's empanelment after difficulties with jurors.
Three new jurors were sworn in for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief David Drumm after difficulties arose with three jurors from Monday. Drumm, aged 51 and residing in Skerries, Co. Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others, alleging they defrauded depositors and investors by falsely presenting Anglo's 2008 deposits as €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting for the same claim. Judge Karen O'Connor discharged the initial jury due to the difficulties and thanked the members for their attendance at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She then oversaw the swearing‑in of a fresh jury of eight men and seven women, after calling 159 potential jurors. The court noted that overnight three jurors had difficulties, leading to their excusal.
A new jury was empanelled for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, who is 51 and resides in Skerries, Co Dublin. Drumm has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by falsely claiming that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were, and to false accounting for the same claim. Judge Karen O'Connor discharged the previous jury due to a difficulty and informed the court that the trial was expected to last five months, warranting an expanded 15‑member jury under the Juries Act. The new jury, consisting of eight men and seven women, was sworn in over two hours, with four jurors discharged during the process. Judge O'Connor warned that jurors must not have worked for or held shares in Anglo or related entities, must not hold strong views on Anglo, and must not use the internet or communicate electronically about the case.
The jury for former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, was sent home until the end of January because of extensive legal argument in the case. Drumm, who lives in Skerries, Co. Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others to defraud depositors and investors by "dishonestly" creating the impression that Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. He also pleaded not guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using an account on 3 December 2008 to provide false information to the market about the bank's deposits. Judge Karen O'Connor warned the 15 jurors not to consult social media or conduct independent research, and to avoid electronic communication such as text, Twitter or Facebook. She told them they could leave until 29 January, when the trial would begin.
David Drumm, aged 51 and former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. He is accused of colluding with others to mislead depositors and investors by presenting a false impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. The court heard that Drumm allegedly provided misleading information to the market on 3 December 2008, creating the impression of a €7.2 billion deposit surplus. A specially enlarged jury of 15 was sworn in at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to try the case. Drumm denied all allegations, stating he did not conspire with Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe or others, nor did he furnish false information to the market in September 2008. The trial is scheduled to continue after a brief adjournment.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, is scheduled to begin on 10 January 2018 and could last up to five months, a judge was told. Drumm, who lives in Skerries, Co. Dublin, faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by creating a false impression that deposits in 2008 were €7.2 billion larger than they actually were, and a third charge relating to the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea. The court has estimated the trial at three months, but the prosecution has requested that the jury be prepared for a possible five‑month duration and that the jury panel be expanded to 15 members. The defence has agreed to a four‑month availability and has no objection to the five‑month suggestion. The matter was adjourned for a pre‑trial mention on 18 December.
Siobhan Maguire, aged 47, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for fraud and theft offences that spanned 14 years. She worked as a personal assistant and shared secretary at two Dublin offices, where she fraudulently lodged 660 cheques into her own bank account, ranging from a few hundred euros to €5,000 each. The total amount stolen was €1,187,616, of which about €325,000 remains outstanding. Maguire pleaded guilty in the District Court and entered a signed guilty plea before the Circuit Criminal Court. She had no prior convictions. The judge noted her early plea, full admissions, remorse, and the impact on her young children, and imposed concurrent four‑year terms for each count. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge taking into account the financial details and the circumstances of the theft. The former employers received partial reimbursement from banks and did not wish to give victim impact statements.
Siobhan Maguire, 47, of The Brambles, Skerries, Dublin, pleaded guilty to 32 theft and fraud offences for fraudulently lodging 660 cheques from her employers' accounts into her personal bank account between 2001 and 2015. The total amount stolen was €1,187,616. She used the money to pay her mortgage, take holidays and support her children. The fraud was discovered in January 2015 when a bank employee noticed suspicious cheques deposited into her account. Maguire was suspended, resigned, and cooperated fully with the Garda investigation, admitting all offences. She has no prior convictions. The employers have been partially reimbursed by banks; the remaining loss is about €325,000. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 26 October and remanded Maguire on bail. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after her guilty pleas in the District Court. The article does not state any sentencing outcome.
Glen Conroy, aged 29, was sentenced to an additional 18 months in prison for assaulting a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison on 20 March 2013. Conroy, who was already serving a six‑year sentence for aggravated burglary and had 57 prior convictions, had complained that his new cell lacked a television. Prison officer Paul Brady promised to arrange a TV, but Conroy lunged at him, head‑butting him and punching him in the face. Conroy resisted restraint attempts by other officers and was brought to the ground by three officers. Officer Brady suffered facial injuries and was out of work for a month. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after a three‑day trial, imposed the 18‑month term to be served consecutively to Conroy's existing sentence. The court noted Conroy's long history of violent offences and his limited time at liberty over the past 15 years.
Talavs Riekstins, a 23‑year‑old Latvian chemistry student, pleaded guilty to arson after setting fire to a €34,000 BMW at Harford Motor Company in Balbriggan on 24 November 2016. He had been under the influence of a substance he had purchased and had previously been sent home earlier that day after refusing to leave the dealership. Riekstins returned with a petrol can, poured petrol over the car and used a lighter to ignite it. The court heard that pedestrians were nearby and that Riekstins was concerned about endangering people. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended the final 18 months, and back‑dated the term to the date he entered custody. The judge noted his clean record, employment history and family support as mitigating factors, while citing the uncontrollable nature of the fire and his drug use as aggravating factors. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The bail conditions for former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 50, have been relaxed by Judge Karen O'Connor. Drumm will now report to Balbriggan Garda station three times a week—Monday, Wednesday and Friday—rather than daily. He must give 24‑hour notice if he wishes to report at a different station. Drumm, who lives in Skerries, faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by misrepresenting deposits in 2008, and an additional charge under the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea. The trial is scheduled for 10 January 2018.
Glen Conroy, 27, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of assaulting a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison on 20 March 2013. Conroy claimed the officer, Paul Brady, had moved him to a new cell without a television and that he had been attacked unprovoked. Conroy said he head‑butted Brady and punched him, but Brady testified that Conroy was the aggressor. Conroy also alleged that officer Patrick Laverty had grabbed his testicles and forced him to the ground, a claim Laverty denied. Conroy admitted no complaint had been made about the alleged assault. Assistant‑Governor Malcolm O'Sullivan reported a disciplinary hearing on 23 March 2013, after which Conroy signed a report and lost privileges for 56 days. The hearing was later disputed by Conroy, who said it never occurred. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for sentencing on 26 July and remanded Conroy in custody.
Rachel Breen, a 49‑year‑old occupational therapist from Skerries, had her driving licence restored after a 2014 disqualification for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to a two‑year‑old boy on Naul Road, Balbriggan, in October 2012. Breen pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting she was travelling below the 80 kph limit and had not seen the junction, which was poorly marked and badly surfaced. The court had previously found her a "decent woman" who made a "serious error of judgement" and imposed a four‑year disqualification and a €5,000 damages order. At a brief hearing, the court, with no objection from the prosecution, granted her licence restoration under the Road Traffic Act, noting she had been off the road since December 2014 and needed a licence for her responsible job.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 50 and residing in Skerries, Co Dublin, was adjourned again to January 12, 2018, by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Drumm faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by falsely presenting 2008 deposits as €7.2 billion larger than they were, and a third charge relating to the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea to any of the charges.
The case of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 50 and residing in Skerries, Co Dublin, has been adjourned for a further week. Drumm faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were, and a third charge relating to the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the case to 11 May 2017 to allow legal matters to be addressed; a new trial date has not yet been set.
The case of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 50 and residing in Skerries, Co Dublin, has been further adjourned to May 5, 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court vacated a trial date earlier this month and adjourned the case due to legal issues. Drumm faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were, and a third charge relating to the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea to any of the charges.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm has been adjourned to a later date in the year. Judge Karen O'Connor vacated the original April 21 start date and set the matter for April 27, when a new trial date will be announced. Drumm, 50, who lives in Skerries, Co Dublin, faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by falsely claiming that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were, and a third charge relating to the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea.
Aer Lingus was fined €250,000 after a cargo driver, John Murray, aged 55, died from head injuries when he fell while climbing down a loading dock at Dublin Airport on 5 November 2014. The company admitted it had allowed non‑employees to access the loading bay by climbing onto a three‑foot high dock, a practice that had become routine. The court found Aer Lingus failed to implement written procedures to protect drivers from the risk of falling and to manage access to the loading bay. Judge Martin Nolan noted the death was devastating for the Murray family and that the company had a generally good safety record, but the offence carried a maximum fine of €3 million. The judge imposed the €250,000 fine, citing the company's early guilty plea and apology. The Murray family has lodged a claim for damages in the High Court.
Kevin Loughnan, 28, avoided a prison term after assaulting his girlfriend, who suffered two broken teeth and facial swelling. The incident occurred on 4 October 2015 when Loughnan, after a night out, returned home to find his girlfriend pouring Sprite over him to wake him. He then pulled her by the hair, punched her, poured more Sprite on her, and covered her mouth, causing her to bleed. She was taken to hospital and later sought help from Loughnan's parents. Loughnan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Melanie Greally, describing the act as a "brief alcohol‑fuelled incident of great seriousness," imposed a three‑year sentence suspended for three years on the condition he remains alcohol‑free. He was ordered to pay €10,000 in compensation, to be paid in instalments. The court noted the violence was an aberrational incident, not a pattern of abuse. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.