Three new jurors have been sworn in to hear the trial of Anglo Irish Bank’s former chairman Sean FitzPatrick.

Last week, the 68-year-old pleaded not guilty to 27 charges under the Companies Act 1990.

Mr FitzPatrick is accused of misleading Anglo’s auditors and furnishing false information to them between November 2002 and February 2008.

An enlarged jury of eight women and seven men was sworn in last Wednesday to hear what is expected to be a 12-week trial.

Since then, two of them contacted the registrar to ask if they could be excused.

Their reasons for doing so weren’t revealed in open court but Judge John Aylmer did not oppose their requests.

Another was asked to leave after it emerged there is a connection between an acquaintance of his and somebody involved in the trial.

Before empanelling their replacements, Judge Aylmer reminded the jury panel that nobody should serve if they couldn’t come at the case fairly.

Two women and one man were eventually sworn in to make up a jury of nine women and six men.

75 witnesses are due to be called to give evidence, but a legal issue will have to be dealt with first in the absence of the jury.