Sean FitzPatrick is back in court – brace yourself

Whether or not the Easter mini-heatwave continues this week, things will certainly be hotting up for that erstwhile darling of the Irish business world, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick.

While the rest of us made the most of the unseasonal sunshine, Seanie Fitz presumably spent the Easter break dusting down his favoured court attire of gold-buttoned blazers and striped ties, as he's due to go on trial today.

At the end of last month, he was charged in the District Court with 12 counts of failing to disclose to auditors Ernst & Young the true value of loans worth at least €139 million.

The loans were given to him or people connected to him by Irish Nationwide Building Society, from 2002 to 2007, while he was an officer of Anglo Irish Bank

In March, Judge Mary Ellen Ring heard that preparations were still ongoing, and so she scheduled the case for today in the hope any outstanding issues could be dealt with over the Easter break.

She remanded FitzPatrick – who was in court for the hearing – on continuing bail.

Such is the level of public ire towards the fallen banking star that even a photo of a water meter, dubbed a “Fitz meter”, being installed outside his Greystones home was deemed worthy of posting on the internet.

Brace yourself over the next eight weeks or so for widespread coverage of the trial in newspapers and on TV , as well as plenty of general fat-cat bashing.