The 16th day of the Aer Lingus Holidays trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been taken up with legal argument in the absence of the jury.

Former Aer Lingus Holidays executive Mr Peter Keely, of Carrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire and solicitor Mr Desmond P. Flynn of Tritonville Avenue, Sandymount have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud.

Both men deny they conspired together and with Mr Peter Noone, former Aer Lingus Holidays financial controller, on dates from March 1987 to November 1988 to defraud Aer Lingus Holidays by misappropriating funds to purchase part of the Los Hibiscos apartment complex in Lanzarote for their own use and benefit. The trial continues before Judge Kieran O'Connor.