Lawyers for former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick want to adjourn his upcoming trial because of recent publicity surrounding the trial of three ex-Anglo officials.

For conspiring to conceal or alter bank accounts being sought by Revenue, Tiarnan O'Mahoney was sentenced to 3 years, Bernard Daly to two years, and Aoife Maguire to 18 months, all without suspension.

Bernard Condon SC, defending FitzPatrick, told the court he was “concerned” about the trial date in October this year because of its proximity to the trial of the former officials.

Mr Condon submitted to Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that “a cascade of sludge” was visited on the head of Mr FitzPatrick (66) during that trial.

Paul O'Higgins SC, prosecuting, submitted that the publicity did not render Mr FitzPatrick's upcoming trial “incapable of going on.”

Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter until Thursday next week when he will decide on whether to postpone Mr FitzPatrick's trial.