Today, for the first time ever, 15 jurors will be selected to hear a trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank executives.
Sean Fitzpatrick of Whitshed Road, Greystones, William McAteer of Auburn Villas, Rathgar and Pat Whelan of Coast Road, Malahide have been charged with 16 counts of providing unlawful financial assistance to individuals in July 2008 to buy shares in the bank.
A pool of around 500 jurors is expected to turn up for jury selection at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning.
From that number 15 will be selected for the trial of the 3 former Anglo executives Sean FitzPatrick, Willie McAteer and Pat Whelan.
That’s up from the usual allowance of 12 jurors – the amended Juries Act which came into effect in July permits extra jurors to be empanelled in cases lasting more than two months.
This trial is due to start on Tuesday and is expected to last between 3 and 6 months.
Ultimately only 12 jurors can decide a case.
