David Drumm jury sent home during fraud trial

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Dublin Circuit Court jury in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm was sent home after deliberating for just over one hour. The proceedings were reported on 29 May 2018.

Drumm pleaded not guilty to both counts.

He was charged with conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others to defraud Anglo depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that its deposits in 2008 were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He was also charged with false accounting on 3 December 2008 by furnishing the market with information that Anglo’s 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were.

On the opening day of the trial in February 2018, Drumm’s lawyers told the jury that he accepted the transactions between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent took place in 2008, but disputed that they were fraudulent or dishonest.

The jury asked to hear a call between Drumm and John Bowe that had been recorded in late September 2008. Judge Karen O’Connor told jurors that verdicts on both counts had to be unanimous and that they must consider each count separately.

The finalised jury comprised nine men and three women. It was due to return at 2pm the following day to continue deliberations, and jurors were warned not to research or discuss the case overnight.