The Rise and Fall of Ireland's 'Fingers' | Ireland News

Michael Fingleton, the visionary who turned Irish Nationwide from a tiny lender into Ireland’s biggest building society—only to see it implode in the 2008 crash—died at 88. Over 38 years, he ballooned assets from £2 million to €16 billion, famously lending to “everybody else,” earning him the nickname “Fingers.” He wielded media and political ties like a master strategist, personally overseeing property deals that made him worth €75 million by 2006. When the bubble burst, taxpayers bailed out the institution for €5 billion. Even after collapse, Fingleton stood defiant, facing lawsuits and civil probes while his family fought to shield him due to illness—and revealed he still owed millions. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/abe65e481347dc98