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Updated 6.35pm
A JUDGE HAS ordered that former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick be found not guilty of hiding millions of euro in loans from auditors.
On day 126 of the State’s longest running criminal trial, Judge John Aylmer said that there was a real risk that the former bank executive would be denied his constitutional right to a fair trial.
He said this resulted from alarming flaws in the prosecution.
The judge said that he intended to direct the jury to acquit FitzPatrick (68) of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow of all remaining charges.
His ruling was made in the absence of the jury, which returns to court tomorrow.
The prosecution alleged that amount of loans connected to FitzPatrick was artificially reduced for a period of two weeks around the bank’s financial end of year statement by short term loans from other sources, including Irish Nationwide Building Society.
Described as “refinancing” this practice was also known as “bed-and-breakfasting” or “warehousing”, as the loans would be allegedly put into short term storage.
During legal argument, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard there was nothing illegal about the loans arrangement.
The State alleged that the former director was obliged to disclose the full extent of his loans to the bank’s auditors Ernst & Young and instead he had concealed them.
After his arrest in 2010 FitzPatrick denied to investigating gardaí from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation that he had ever sought to conceal the multi-million euro loans.
He told detectives that there was no financial benefit to him, his family or the bank in the annual refinancing of some of his loans.
Speaking outside of court after the ruling FitzPatrick said it had been a long, tiring and difficult time for him and his family. He said that thankfully the trial was over now and it was a wonderful day for him and his family.
Judge Aylmer had said that the investigation, carried out by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), fell short of an unbiased, impartial and balanced investigation that an accused is entitled to.
He said this was because the lead investigator for the ODCE, Kevin O’Connell was inexperienced and made fundamental mistakes.
He said the ODCE investigation failed to seek out evidence as to the innocence as well as the guilt of the accused. He said the ODCE adopted an inappropriate, biased and partisan approach and were trying to build a case rather than investigating a case impartially.
Much of the case rested on “letters of representation” signed by each Anglo directors during the audit and the judge ruled that this issue was not properly investigated.
He said the most fundamental error was the way in which the ODCE set about taking statements from witnesses.
He said this involved coaching of witnesses, contamination of their statements from third parties such as solicitors for the auditors and cross-contamination between witness statements.
He said warnings to the jury would be inadequate to address these flaws.
Judge Aylmer also pointed to the extraordinary destruction of documents linked to the investigation by the lead investigator. This happened during legal argument in the first trial in May 2015 and emerged during that trial.
The judge said there must be a concern that the shredded documents were of assistance to the defence and damaging to the prosecution.
The retrial of FitzPatrick began last September. It was scheduled to last three months but quickly became bogged down in weeks of legal argument in the absence of the jury.
FitzPatrick had pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007. The DPP withdrew nine of these charges earlier this month.
The prosecution came on foot of an investigation by the ODCE that began shortly after the full size of FitzPatrick’s personal loans emerged in December 2008.
Between 2002 and 2007 loans taken out by FitzPatrick, his wife and family members increased from in the region of €10 million in 2002 to around €100 million in 2007. The revelations led to FitzPatrick resigning as chairman.
The loans were used to finance development of shopping centres, hotels and offices at a time when a lot of money could be made in property development, the jury were told at the start of the trial.
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Is it April fools day? Oh no, it’s just a normal day in Ireland
@Cathal: in any other country he’d be locked up!
the banksters never go to jail in our crooked ff fg state.vote them out lads.make the change.
@Cathal: surely that should read… ‘judge John Alzheimers’
innocent man walks free, this is a court of law not a court of public opinion thank god.
@Bobby Phelan: What has FG/FF have to do with a judges ruling – or are you just blubbering out the first thought that enters your head? Because advocating political interference in the judiciary is dumb.
@Bobby Phelan: I’m staring to believe that. You left out Lab.
Maybe SF can do what the others have failed to and clean up this country. The irony
@Bobby Phelan: and vote who in??? Sinn fein are a joke aswell
@Bobby Phelan: you want him jailed without any evidence against him, is that not internment you are looking for shinnerbot?
Anyone even remotely surprised by this must be living under a rock somewhere. Now off you all go,like good little doggies, to keep voting for the same FF/FG chronies who keep this sham system in place…woof woof
@booby sandwiches: you talking to yourself boobs?
@Cathal: I see very little different between this gangster getting off Scott free and the chancers I’ve just heard about who are having most of their mortgages wrote off. Both chanced their arm, both had balls of steal over many years and the reals fools are the ordinary people who work their ass off every day of the week to pay their mortgage. It’s day like this you ask yourself why do I bother.
@booby sandwiches: He wasn’t found innocent by a jury, the judge decided to drop the charges.
@Alan Farrell: the judge will direct the jury to find him not guilty.
@booby sandwiches: stop taking pi$$ . A1 for trolling
@booby sandwiches: Banana Republik – stealing billions of Euro is “innocent man walks free” here…
@Cathal: f
From here on in I ride the Luas for free and give two fingers to the courts as I pass them…… in fact everybody should ride public transport for free in protest …
@Cathal: ODCE or DPP will seek a retrial.
@Cathal:Perhaps the fault lies with the prosecution?!,,,If the judge finds that there was a problem with the evidence what was he to do?,,,
@Cathal: Surprise, Sur-bleedin-prise… My question is: Will the personnel in the ODCE who, allegedly, royally screwed up the investigation and allegedly failed to follow the most basic good practice relating to the gathering and processing of evidence be disciplined? They could have saved us time and the pretense of an attempt at justice by just burning bags of taxpayers money or maybe shipping it direct to the barristers involved. I expect no one will be blamed, shamed and dismissed and the Irish media will take the easy option of focusing on the talking heads repeating themselves continually regarding the atrocity in Manchester instead of investigating the Irish cozy cartel circling the wagons. Save the bankers – screw the ordinary tax payers.
@Cathal: sham trial completed. FG can go into the election android spout the “government cannot influence the course of justice” which is utter bulls**t . Seanie walks to write his memoirs…Enda is out the gap and nobody is brought to book for bringing the worst 10 years in those country’s recent history down upon us.
People have lost their homes, their jobs, their pride in what they built around them ans some even lost their lives. The likes of Fitzpatrick, Bertie Ahern and the rest of them are splitting their collective arses laughing at us. Bit not to worry…when the air brushed pictures of Mehole and Leo go up around the place on posters, we’ll tow the line and bring them back into power. We’ll get what we’ll vote for and we’ll vote for pond life.
@Mully Post of the week sir!
@David Murphey: They will have to find new charges. On the judge’s direction he has been found not guilty. He cannot be tried on those charges again.
@Mark: booby is a member of FG, so no surprises he’s defeated ding the indefensible.
@booby sandwiches: It’s a pity you’re walking free.
@Ken O’Neill: booby is a member of FG, so no surprises he’s defending the indefensible. And yes I am talking to myself.
@David Murphey: I think, because he has been found not guilty, he can not be retried for the same offences. Or does that only apply in the USA Double jeopardy?
@Old Gabby Johnson: If you believe there’s not, that’s stupid.
@Mark H: Seanny or the Judge?
@Bobby Phelan: That’s not going to happen. The people of Ireland want this type of carry on as far as I can see. Why else do they keep voting the same shower in?
@booby sandwiches: Oh! the irony and you were the one shouting for internment on another thread fool.
@Mark H: Not in mine. He’d be given a knighthood and possibly a seat in the Lords.
@cortisola: stop feeding the FG troll.Ignore the dog.
Ffs what more can be said
@colm connolly: you are shocked that an innocent man walks free? why is that?
@colm connolly:
This is stunning.
Had followed this (as much as one can), and I literally cannot believe this news.
@booby sandwiches: no I’m not and that’s what’s so bad about it
@colm connolly: well i for one am delighted that the case was dealth with on facts not populist public opinion.
@booby sandwiches: he wasn’t found not guilty. The charges were dropped. Big difference.
@booby sandwiches: Sur if he’d been locked up he would be like all those other “innocent” men and women in our prisons that were jailed when there wasn’t enough evidence to convict.
@Brinster: can he be retried or is that it?
@booby sandwiches: cause hes not
@Jane:
Very unlikely I’d say.
While the DPP wanted to press ahead, the judge appears to have decided that the case/evidence is so prejudiced that it could “never” be fair.
The ODCE shredding evidence was extraordinary, but still.
Rightly or wrongly, this was perceived by many to be a litmus test of whether our society is actually changing or whether the rich could still act with impunity.
If a jury decided guilt or innocence, there couldn’t be much argument.
But for a Judge to direct it……..
@Booby I generally hate feeding trolls but I’ll make an exception for your and your ridiculous cowardly username. S.Fitzgpatrick was not ‘Found Innocent’ !!! The judge insisted to the court that the charges be dropped due to the malpractice of the Prosecution team. Big difference
@Nigel O’Neill: booby is part of the problem Nigel, he’s obviously in bed with the corruption that’s plagueing this banana Republic.
@Brinster: Compare this to what’s going on with the Jobstown trial.
@colm connolly: Ignore that twit Colm, he’s the worst troll on this site
@Brinster: it’s very disappointing
@Jane: this is a real kick in the nuts to every citizen who has been working hard and trying to put the recent past of our state behind us, gut wrenching
@Dave Doyle:
That was one of the first implications that sprang to mind.
I could be diplomatic here and say “the optics aren’t great” at the moment. That they are independent events and should be considered separately and on their own merits.
The truth is if Jobstown verdict goes the other way, then I think people will be very, very, very annoyed.
It will reinforce ever negative stereotype about the country.
@Brinster: Bad as what happened appears, it all hinges on the Jobstown trial, in one way it’s a very big pity Paul Murphy is the principle player.
@booby sandwiches: @booby sandwiches: He was freed on a technicality, nothing to do with innocence. Somewhat amazing that anyone would defend someone that was one of the main players in bringing this country to it’s knees and left us with a national debt that will take generations to clear, but today’s direction from the Judge is nothing more than incompetence on the part of the state team and no reflection on guilt or innocence.
@Dave Doyle:
Agreed.
When you look at the damage caused by the respective parties – honestly this has left me speechless.
@booby sandwiches: If you think he is innocent then it shows how warped you are.
@booby sandwiches: The fact is is tole and lied through his teeth but fiann Gael trolls accept that as normal hence why millionaires get away with it. Everyone in this country know Fianna Gael stands for corruption.
@vNblxOSQ: shows how desperate Fianna Gael are to employ tools like him.
THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST A DOZEN BANKERS IN GAOL
I’m not one bit surprised. Don’t they look after each other
@Noel Barnes: We have criminal culture glorification here in fairness, bankers with billions of euro stolen or junkies with hundreds of convictions are saints in Ireland 2017.
What a fu@king joke! Just shows that if you run in the right circle you can do what you want and nothing will happen to you.
I’m shocked. Shocked! Well, not that shocked
The lads looking out for the lads.
Absolutely disgraceful. What sort of country do we live in at all
@Audrey Dutton: A country where people don’t automatically get convicted just because you’ve decided they’re guilty.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: But it would be nice to live in a country where a trial of this nature and magnitude could run its course.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: The problem, as Jonathan Sugarman so kindly put it, was that the law was broken numerous times, and either through the incompetence of the prosecution, the unwillingness of the central banks or blatant corruption in ignoring financial law, the perpetrators of mass banking fraud in Ireland and never charged, or successfully prosecuted.
In this case, it is explicit that fake loans (Fitzpatrick stated this in his evidence, but as CEO and Chairman, he did not remember who instigated this, so it wasn’t his fault) were being made to cover undocumented real loans, and this was done to hide the liquidity problem in Anglo Irish Bank. This is a sham court decision, and even if there was incompetence in the prosecution, it should have been directed to be ignored, not thrown out.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: That’s because he is guilty you gormless idiot.
@Maggie May: I’m gormless and an idiot because I believe in due process? Fair enough.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: Neal he had upwards of €100 million in loans which is illegal as a director of Anglo and also falsified documents regarding these loans, also a crime!
@Audrey Dutton: A corrupt country defended by brain dead clones as you can see on this site.
It is hard not to believe that the horrific events in Manchester aren’t being used as a screen for this. Ireland- the best little country in the world to do business.
@Phil O’ Meara: my first thoughts. It will make page 5 instead of page 1!
@Phil O’ Meara: of all days to announce it
@Phil disgusting actually isnt it! #NoShame
“A good day to bury bad news.”
@Phil O’ Meara: Exactly they are that low that would use this event to try to deflect the issue. Think about it they proved time and time again they are that low.
@Susie: what’s the saying….’ a good day to bury bad news’
He still drives a car and smokes his cigar, And still he takes his family on a cruise, he’ll never lose
@Kevin Mannion: and deserves every bit of it :)
@Kevin Mannion: your no ordinary man kev
@booby sandwiches: Ah, is Sean your hero? It explains a lot.
@booby sandwiches: OK Booby – You can be my first muted ‘person’ on the journal – congrats.
@booby sandwiches: Do you realise what your comments say about you. You epitomize Fianna Gael to the core for ignorance.
WHAT A JOKE OF A COUNTRY LETTING THIS SNAKE AWAY WITH WHAT HE DID
Seems to be virtually impossible to convict a banker in Ireland.
We don’t need more regulation, just ones we can enforce.
The poor get poorer and the rich get richer and get away with whatever they want because they can afford the most expensive lawyers. Remember OJ?
Judge waits 126 days ensuring abonanza for the legals,and then decides the prosecutors hav’nt tried hard enough to prove poor oul seany’s innocence.
An absolute joke, don’t pay ur TV license and its of to mountjoy with ye. F. F. S
What did we expect? A jail term ?? Hahaha. Unreal. Words fail me
Is this for real?
Will this guy now pay his own legal costs or will the tax payer have to cough up ?
@Mike Howard: Taxpayer, Judge directed charges dropped.
@Mike Howard: Leo Verruca will get the Dole fiddlers to pay his legal fee’s.
@OnTheOutside: It’s a criminal case so he’s liable for all his legal fees.
@Mike Howard: Taxpayer of course!
@OnTheOutside: Seanie hasn’t got two pennies to rub together now. He doesn’t even own the family home poor lad. Have some respect for this innocent banker…
Is this supposed to be hidden behind last night’s tragedy?
@Michael of course buddy, you hardly think it was coincidental!!! After 126 days!
Absolute joke
Goes to show; enough cash and enough time and the cute hoors can get away with anything. Drummer will be up for aquital next.
Why is the judge directing the jury? Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?!
@Enda McKenna: My question would be why is there only one judge in a trial of such importance.
@Enda McKenna: the judge directs on points of law.
@OnTheOutside: because most juris prudence criminal cases have a single judge. Why would more be needed? Only our Special Criminal Courts have more than one judge and they don’t have a jury.
and that my friends is how corrupt Ireland works.
…and they lock people up for no TV licence and this guy just walks away Scott free. He must have something on someone that they don’t want exposed. Can’t say I’m surprised by the decision. It’s the 1% looking out for each other yet again while we’ll end up footing the bill.
Over the course of 126 days they couldn’t pin a tail on that donkey.
I’d be interested in seeing a detailed analysis of the court sessions and would expect all future comments on the matter to be well informed based on the information available. Oh wait no, this is Ireland.
@Ciaran Ó Fallúin: the vital evidence was shredded “accidentally”. The Irish state has form with evidence it doesn’t like.
What ?????
Joke
“126th day of proceedings”??? I will read no more of this as I am on BP medication.
Talk about a waste of money, knowing what the end result would be – why did they bother?
It didnt even go to the Jury’s decision, what a joke, both sides have now had their trials paid for by the taxpayer.
I wonder what his rank is in the masons? I’m guessing it’s high.
It’s a club. Members get looked after
Suprised anybody. Enda and Michael taking care of business before they clear out their office’s
They will never jail the 1%.
Obviously OJ’s glove didn’t fit Sean Fitzpatrick either.
More chance of a custodial sentence if he had no TV Licence.
The investigators should be sacked.
La La Land ……
Only Crime is Petty Crime…
Big Crime….No Justice….
Only the Big Injustices are Ignored and Small Crimes Amplified.
Sean Can go back to playing Golf with the Taoiseach now
Ask leo
What and absolute farce.
Enda was right it is a great little country to do funny buisness.
This is Ireland.
Don’t know why anyone is surprised here he was always going to be acquitted, the elite never suffer and ride off into the sunset, most corrupt country in Europe no doubts about it
I suppose he can file for some kind of compensation for all that stress endured. 126 days……126 years hard labour would be more like it
Is he going to pay back the €97million loan he got from Anglo Irish Bank or has he been afforded ‘debt forgiveness’ like all the other poor people who live in daily fear of losing their homes, not!
You get jail for non payment of a fine but if you are banker or politician who commits vast fraud that’s alright. Judges appointed by politicians looking after their own. Its no wonder the way judges are being appointed is being looked into & changed. What a corrupt nasty little country we live in & it seems that corruption has spread to the courts
Also people are foolish to think that this aquital by the judge on grounds of malpractice by the investigators, was announced today, when the news is jam packed with the awful events across in Manchester #Timing is Everything
WHAT A JOKE OF A COUNTRY WE ARE. FRIENDS LOOKING OUT FOR FRIENDS.
Off all the days to be acquitted today. They knew the news would be focused elsewhere. They really take the Irish people for a joke. The Justice system in Ireland only works when you have money. A fcuking joke.
@rockhopper exactly my friend..its actually sickening that they would use the awful suffering of those families in Manchester to bury this item in the news today!! Disgusting
What a surprise!!
Going to jail and paying taxes is only for the common people of Ireland
Why today. ? Because they are banking on the Manchester news taking all the headlines. They really have the nerve to do this.
Establishment wins again.And I presume Sean doesn’t have a mortgage.
I’m sure that all the people, who have had their homes repossessed, will be just fine with that. What a joke – Only in Ireland!
@Neal Ireland Hello.: so it’s OK for the monkeys to be convicted, but not the circus owner directing them?
They may still get him over his TV licence ??
Absolute joke!
You have got to be f***ing kidding
@Fergal Kelly: welcome to this week’s episode of the Twilight Zone
What’s the point in a trial by jury when a judge takes it upon themselves to decide the outcome?
Ah sure why would ya expect anything else but a facial judicial system in Ireland
Pat on the back for him
One law for the rich another for everyone else
This man Seanie probably had an OJ moment when the judge read out this decison. Would it give you any faith in the justice system in Ireland.
I blame the investigators, selective evidence gathering to strengthen and “losing” evidence not in their favour.
Country is rotten to the core, 10 years later and he gets off scot free, and we the people of lreland will be paying for this barstewards actions for generations
and what great day for it to happen (will be forgotten by tomorrow)….. Geldoff was right, banana republic
Well fu€k that, well I guess you gotta free up a cell for some body who has been rat on because he did a nixer to bring his wages up to feed his/her family and pay some bills.
Ha ha ha! No surprise there! Banana Republic!
Anyone who didn’t see this coming from day one should have gone to spec savers.
Interesting this happened today when the only thing in the news is Manchester.
can evidence change from one person toanother, what about the people that have served time already
So there we have it. No banker in this country jailed bar a couple of minnows who acted ‘unilaterally’ (no orders from above). The financial regulator gets off scot free, the politicians got off scot free and now Fitzpatrick. The only one who is left is David Drumm. Prepare yourselves for the worst. Despite the leaking of those audio tapes to the independent that time which directly implicates him, he will jump too. Think this will be the last straw. We will have to do an Iceland on it.
Sure wasn’t he in the Aviva at the soccer with that other fine human being O’Brien during his extended bail, and didn’t he object to the original trial Judge so someone more favourable lets say was submarined in and didn’t he get his trial dates put back for a year and a half, the only saving grace is there is no such thing as eternal life so sooner rather then later he’ll run out of time in this realm and hopefully get his comeuppance in the next.
These guys are laughing at us. How could he have got off with it all ? WTF ?
The director of corporate enforcement should lose his job.
Surprise !!
What an absolute joke…. sure it’s ok the ordinary workers are going to carry the can for the next few generations.
Joke
Lets have an enquiry into this decision, say fg, “we could use one of our most eminent judges to take charge
What about the irish with trips away to nyc buy g 2nd homes to show off the irish spend more than the bloody bankers ..
@dangermouse: what? Its not a crime to earn money.
There really is no hope left for Ireland. How in God’s name could this Bast**d walk free after what he did to this country. I’m sick to the pit of my stomach
What’s the point of having a jury if the judge can direct them to acquit a defendent?
Shocking day for ordinary people. Another two fingers from the FF/FG Davos party!!!!
Ireland is the most corrupt country in the world
This is his second acquittal ! On the first occasion he was acquitted by twelve of our fellow citizens!! http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/jury-finds-se%C3%A1n-fitzpatrick-not-guilty-on-all-counts-1.1764481
One little threat of bringing x y and z down with him possibly…
White collar crimes
Same old same old this country is rotten to the core
what a shocker
A flawed and high profile case wasn’t apparently competently reviewed before being sent to trial.
Who then in the DPP’s office will be fired?
Who in the ODCE’s office will be dismissed?
Will EY and/or their solicitors continue to be given State business?
Why does this have the awful feeling of worst scenario come true?
In December 2008 Sean admited that he had hidden EUR87 million worth of loans but now he is being acquitted because the prosecution didn’t investigate the possibility he could be innocent?! I’m confused. Nobody has been convicted of any wrongdoing for the economic collapse, probably because they are all in the ‘golden circle’, including the judge.. This is a joke, the rich stay rich and the poor pay the price as per effin usual
If you leave a comment here make sure it “offends” the System” in a mild way because its removed a few seconds later. Good bless freedom of speech. We should bring it in in Ireland.
Well fu€k that, well I guess you gotta free up a cell for some body who has been rat on because he did a nixer to bring his wages up to feed his/her family and pay some bills.
In fairness he just got caught. But he was only doing what every financial institution does every day. We know nothing about how that world operates.
Vast web of old school chums, politicos, bankers, judges all in bed with each other and giving the rest of us the two fingers
Ah sure. wouldn’t worry hey will make an example of those protesters in the other court. Just to show us justice is blind my ass
What will the dole spongers be thinking ?? There’s more being done to stop them than w***k**s like Fitzpatrick
But don’t forget it’s welfare cheats that cheat us all…ffs
Drumm will get the same treatment.. banksters & politicians are above the law in Ireland mean while normal people get jail for no Tv licence
The untouchables! I wonder if the people of Jobstown are as connected.
Gee that’s a shocker….. a joke and complete waste of taxpayers money.
What a joke…ya just couldn’t make this up..absolutely no accountability whatsoever and we feckin bailed out the banks with our tax money…
Handy to have the corrupt state working for ye
One word – DISGRACEFUL
You can’t say anything on the journal.ie, that might offend sean. if you do they take it down
@Paul Maguire: Spot on. I think it is run by that shit in FG.
This country is an absolute disgrace and Banana Republic. Seanies been playing golf with all the right fellas to dodge jail time. All the stories of corruption over the last few years. An elected TD up in court for alleged imprisonment for protesting for people’s rights, while this gangster and the rest of the bankers laugh at us peasants. Keep voting FG FF LAB and even SF ye bunch of clowns.
This outcome is a shocking indictment of the ODCE and it’s lack of professionalism and basic investigative competence. The organisation needs a shake up from top to bottom and the evidence destroyers and tamperers forced for cause.
Bollox
There’s one law for them and another law for the rest of us. Meanwhile a stacked jury, led by a fine-Gael appointed judge are foaming at the mouth trying to prosecute a bunch of “fvcking dregs” for apparently terrifying Joan Burton.
Despite contrary witness statements, Gardai caught lying on the stand, etc…
Wtf?!!
I wonder what golf club the judge plays in?
So once again it’s not that his not guilty, its the people of Irelands fault because we couldn’t possibly have treated him “fairly” in a trial.
Shocked and stunned! Nah not really.
No bankers jailed rotten stinking country
While People are still being evicted
@Stouts O Shea: I wonder if Leo the lion had an opinion on this?
O God one rule for the rich, and none for the rest of us
thumbs up if you didn’t think he’d get convicted ..you know because of the whole feck joe public thing that seems to be a core of Irish society
How much extra money did that trial waste?? Waste of time, people and money. Did we expect any other outcome in this country??
So Ireland; what have we learned? …… If the exact same thing happens in 10 years, it will results in the exact same outcome…
Ha ha ha ha country is a complete and utter funniest joke ever and it cost us billions and billions
Anyone who has voted the austerity parties into power deserves all they get. I wonder if it has anything to do with that famous headline about rugby, rte and political stars losing their investment in Anglo?
No judge should be allowed direct a jury. If he is really innocent the jury should be the only ones to make that decision. Likewise if he is guilty.
Can he actually be retried?
What about the constitutional rights of the people of Ireland?
We’re really f#@&ed at this rate.
Our judicial system is set up to protect the the rich the privileged the political elite. To them laws are there to shield their wrongdoings facilitate their greed and ensure for them their is no accountability no consequences for their misdeeds. If the case against them is looking serious someone will loose a file or mess up a procedure to muddy the waters and circle the wagons. Consequences are for the little guy.
Can I suggest something here. Its clear that we the Irish people mean nothing to the government but we can’t just sit back and allow them to sh*t down on top of us. I think we should organise a huge protest about this. Is it possible for us to contact those who have the means to organise it. I really think they have no respect at all for us. We are just being used by our own government as tools.
@Nointerest Here: anyone up for a march?
Reminds me of the time Mary Harney called Haughey a crook….ooops….now he cant get a fair trail…sorry.
What a Banana Republic….nothing to see here, keep paying your taxes, oh wonder which of my foozball Teams will win the tiddlywinks cup!
Not only has justice been done ,,,,, we’ve been done too!
A f*****g joke and not found guilty of ANY charges??? My USC says different.
WHAT AN ABSOLUTE W****R
Trial Was NINE Years In Preparation. It cost millions in Legal Aid and was clearly designed – Not to work. Meanwhile we get back to those welfare cheats. The Golden Circle looking after itself .
“Laws grind the poor while rich men rule the law.” Oliver Goldsmith, circa 1763
In fairness to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement they would have been pilloried for doing nothing. There was far too much political pressure on them to do anything.
@Lisa Dorothy: Or something I mean.
@Lisa Dorothy: Is it too much to ask that they do their job properly? Can we expect that, now they have shown that they are incapable of putting together a viable case, that there might be some resignations? I won’t be holding my breath.
The amount of dirt he must have on this and previous governments would cause a revolution
Smelly rat. Lowlifes running this kip of a country
That poor oul devil looks wore out from it all. He will need the missus to rub some Middleton Rare onto the balls of his feet (careful now) later. I think he needs a break to be honest from carrying that ominous looking brief case. A week maybe in the Seychelles possibly. Just to ease away lifes stresses. Pack the old ralphy baby, swimming trunks in the briefcase. You all need to exercise a little more restraint as this man has been through a lot. What if it was you who had to manage all that money. I think you would be wore out too!
Ah ffs lads
Fcuk Off Fcuk right off
What a waste of taxpayers money when it was inevitable he was gonna get off noting sticks to these gangsters..
Justice is served. Disgusting persecution of a vulnerable pensioner.
How did this Pric& get away scott free. This country is corrupt to the core.
This is one CORRUPT nation
This is what happens when you use an inept civil service team against one that lives in the real world
#Pathetic
Smelly rat. Bunch of lowlifes running this country
Ridiculous . People in jail for less that what this piece of trash done.
excellent news, well done sean and best of luck to you
Nice pic Booby..
@Nigel O’Neill: He’s just another troll. Probably annoyed he went to bed early last night and missed his opportunity to troll the messages of sympathy for Manchester victims. Best to ignore idiots like this.
@booby sandwiches: I would take great pleasure in punching you to a pulp.
And why Not.
Jesus we so badly need to move on from FF and FG they have destroyed this state. Vote them out time for change
Shambolic civil servants let him off hook
Justice in this country is a joke. Sean Fitzpatrick has cost every person in this country 6000Euro+. He should be thrown into jail and the key thrown into the deep Atlantic. If we never again saw this fellows face it would be too soon.
M.D.M
Isn’t it great to see that the “old boy” network is alive and well and living in Seanies back pocket.
Once again the judicial system has let the whole country down.
The Bank Regulator, the Central Bank, the Gardai, the Department of Justice, the Dept of Health, the HSE, the Planning Authorities. Et
People forget we would never have had a boom only for men like him
Wasting More of Our Money, this is a JOKE
Wasting More of Our Money, this is a JOKE
Rich men make laws for poor men, Poor men don’t make laws for rich men
Corruption is rife in Ireland just like most countries….are we honestly surprised he was left of the hook.
White collar crime how are ya.
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