FitzPatrick built Anglo into a giant, and was lucky to leave when he did

He built Anglo Irish into a behemoth, though it was never more than a specialist lender. And on leaving as CEO in 2005, he was to avoid direct knowledge of attempts to hide its plight

Seán FitzPatrick arrives at court in 2013. File picture: Collins Courts

To a large extent, Seán FitzPatrick was lucky he chose to step aside from the day-to-day running of Anglo Irish Bank when he did.

As chief executive from 1986, Mr FitzPatrick had shaped Anglo in his own image.