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Ex-boss of Irish bank arrested | Ex-boss of Irish bank arrested |
(10 minutes later) | |
The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank is being questioned by Irish police about alleged financial irregularities. | The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank is being questioned by Irish police about alleged financial irregularities. |
Sean FitzPatrick stepped down in December 2008 after admitting he had concealed millions of euros in personal loans from the Dublin-based bank. | Sean FitzPatrick stepped down in December 2008 after admitting he had concealed millions of euros in personal loans from the Dublin-based bank. |
He hid the loans from shareholders by temporarily transferring them to another bank before each year-end to avoid revealing them in the accounts. | He hid the loans from shareholders by temporarily transferring them to another bank before each year-end to avoid revealing them in the accounts. |
The bank became a symbol for the decline of the "Celtic Tiger" economy. | The bank became a symbol for the decline of the "Celtic Tiger" economy. |
Last year, Anglo reported the biggest loss in Irish corporate history when it made a loss of 4.1bn euros (£3.7m) in the six months to March on the back of large impairments on its property loans to developers. | Last year, Anglo reported the biggest loss in Irish corporate history when it made a loss of 4.1bn euros (£3.7m) in the six months to March on the back of large impairments on its property loans to developers. |
Its latest set of results, due to be published soon, are expected to be much worse. | Its latest set of results, due to be published soon, are expected to be much worse. |
The bank was one of the stars of Irish business during the country's property boom, lending billions of euros for development in Ireland and the UK. | The bank was one of the stars of Irish business during the country's property boom, lending billions of euros for development in Ireland and the UK. |
It was nationalised by the Dublin government in 2009 after it threatened to collapse in the face of a property crash. | It was nationalised by the Dublin government in 2009 after it threatened to collapse in the face of a property crash. |
Aside from the concealment of directors' loans, other scandals to afflict the bank included a scheme to allegedly give artificial support to the bank's share price and the recording of a huge loan from another bank as a customer deposit. | Aside from the concealment of directors' loans, other scandals to afflict the bank included a scheme to allegedly give artificial support to the bank's share price and the recording of a huge loan from another bank as a customer deposit. |
Last week Mr FitzPatrick told the bank he could not repay 70m euros (£63m) he owes in unpaid loans. | |
As a result, the bank has started legal action against him in an attempt to recover the debt. | |
Mr FitzPatrick was arrested at his home in Greystones, County Wicklow, by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation on Thursday. His house was also searched. | Mr FitzPatrick was arrested at his home in Greystones, County Wicklow, by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation on Thursday. His house was also searched. |
Following the arrest, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said he had "always stated there is an extensive Garda investigation under way". | Following the arrest, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said he had "always stated there is an extensive Garda investigation under way". |
"I have been cautious not to prejudice that investigation and am eager to see justice take its course." | "I have been cautious not to prejudice that investigation and am eager to see justice take its course." |