Drumm’s trial ‘could take five months’

THE trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm could last up to five months, a judge was told yesterday.

The trial of Mr Drumm, 51, which is due to start on January 10 next year, will also require an extended jury panel, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Mr Drumm, of Skerries, Co. Dublin, faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors at Anglo by ‘dishonestly’ creating the impression that deposits in 2008 were €7.2billion larger than they actually were. He faces one additional charge in relation to the EU transparency directive.

Mr Drumm has yet to enter a plea to the charges against him.

The estimated duration of the trial currently stands at three months but the jury should be told they may be required for longer, prosecution barrister Paul O’Higgins SC, told Judge Karen O’Connor.

‘The jury will need to be told they should be free for five months, maybe, so we’re not under terrific pressure,’ he said. Mr O’Higgins said an extended jury panel of 15 people would also be required.

Bernard Condon SC, defending, said he had no difficulty with the suggested fivemonth time frame.

Judge O’Connor adjourned the matter for a pre-trial mention on December 18.

Mr Drumm was in court for the brief hearing yesterday.

He is on continuing bail and it was reported in July that he has to sign on three time a week at Balbriggan Garda station.