Courts / Wicklow / Report
Former Anglo chairman will not face any more criminal charges
Summary
Sean FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, was acquitted of all 27 charges in a 127‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge John Aylmer directed the jury to acquit, citing insufficient evidence and procedural shortcomings in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement's investigation, including document shredding and witness coaching. The prosecution had alleged that FitzPatrick misled auditors about multi‑million‑euro loans linked to him and his family, and had concealed the full extent of these loans. The charges included 22 counts of misleading auditors and five of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Earlier, nine charges were withdrawn for lack of evidence. No further criminal proceedings remain against FitzPatrick. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former Anglo chairman will not face any more criminal charges. Charges or matters: 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- December 2008 Other
- 2002 and 2007 Other
- 2002 to 2007 Other
- 2017-05-24 Publication
Why: He said that because of issues in the investigation, including the "extraordinary" shredding of documents by the ODCE investigator and the coaching of witnesses, there was a real risk to Mr FitzPatrick of an unfair trial. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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