The judge in the trial of Anglo Irish Bank’s former chairman Sean Fitzpatrick is dealing with a legal issue in the absence of the jury.

The 68-year-old denies 27 counts of misleading Anglo’s auditors and furnishing false information to them between 2002 and 2008.

Last Wednesday, an enlarged jury of 15 was sworn in to hear Sean Fitzpatrick’s trial.

But three new jurors were sworn in this afternoon after John Aylmer excused two men and a woman for various reasons.

He again warned the jury panel of ten categories of people who shouldn’t serve.

They included anyone with strong views on the banking crisis, anyone directly affected by it or anyone who felt they couldn’t be impartial.

20 people were excused before the jury was restored to its full compliment with the addition of three new jurors – two women and one man.

They were asked to return tomorrow but the court is now dealing with a legal issue in their absence and the trial is unlikely to begin for a few weeks.

Before they left, the judge again reminded them of the importance of being impartial and warned them not to discuss the case with family or friends.

Our Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney reports: