Ex-Anglo executives to stand trial in 2017, judge says

The trial of two former Anglo Irish Bank executives over an alleged fraudulent loan of over €8 million will start in January 2017.

Former finance director William McAteer (64) is accused of fraudulently obtaining a loan from Anglo Irish Bank to pay off a personal loan with Bank of Ireland in September 2008.

Pat Whelan (52), former director of lending at Anglo, is accused of being a party to the same loan.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard that Mr McAteer, from Greenrath, Tipperary Road, Tipperary and Mr Whelan, from Coast Road, Malahide, Co Dublin intend to plead not guilty to the charges.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring set a date of January 16th 2017 for the four week trial

Diana Stuart BL, prosecuting, told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) understood that both men would be pleading not guilty to the charges. She said the DPP was therefore seeking a date for trial and she asked for one in October 2016.

Robert Purcell, solicitor for Mr McAteer, said it is safer and more appropriate, given the necessity for a fade factor, to start the trial in January 2017.

Judge Ring agreed and made orders for witnesses and exhibits for a four week trial starting on January 16th, 2017. She gave liberty to all parties involved to re-enter the case if any issues arose and listed the case for mention on July 18, 2016.