Former Anglo Irish Bank director due in court
One of the top bankers in the former rogue lender Anglo Irish Bank is due in court today on fraud charges.
Willie McAteer will be the first banker prosecuted over the collapse of the toxic bank in 2008-2009 which has been largely blamed for bringing the Irish economy to its knees.
Anglo’s former finance director was arrested this morning by fraud squad officers investigating financial irregularities at Anglo Irish Bank.
It is the third time he has been detained over the long-running inquiry.
McAteer is due before the Dublin District Court this afternoon.
A second man, aged in his 50s, has also been arrested in connection with the investigation, it emerged later.
The charges relate to a failed attempt to prop up Anglo’s share price after a stock market collapse.
Money was given out by the bank to a select group for the purchase of shares in the bank as its value plummeted in 2008.
Anglo, the favoured bank of property speculators and developers, was nationalised in 2009 after a massive share price collapse.
Its rescue has cost the Irish taxpayer about €30bn.
