More Revelations on Ex-Sligo Banker's Practices

The former boss of Irish Nationwide Building Society, Tubbercurry native Michael 'Fingers' Fingleton has made the national news headlines again over his running of the Society and his practice of 'fast-tracking' loans, with the minimum of 'bureaucracy', to certain individuals including prominent Fianna Fail members.

It has now been revealed by The Irish Mail on Sunday, that another recipient of his largesse was Dublin socialite Cindy Cafolla whose furniture business had collapsed only three years before a €1m loan was given to her as part of an overall €2.5m loan. This was done despite no pay-slips or details of her income being supplied. Ms.Cafolla, recently voted Ireland's Sexiest Legs, is now being pursued by Irish Nationwide through the High Court. The details of the case have not yet been released.

Left: Cindy Cafolla


Following the collapse of her company, La Rochelle, in 2003 she was banned from acting as a company director for a period of five years. It was during this period that Fingleton authorised the loan of millions of Euro to her on the strength of the sale of a house in Foxrock. The house has been on the market since 2006 and has fallen in price from €4.95m to €4.

The loan advanced to Ms.Cafolla was to purchase a house in the exclusive K Club complex near to Charlie McCreevey whose loan to buy his K Club house was provided by Fingleton also.

The ex-boss of the building society has still not repaid the controversial bonus of €1m paid to him on top of his €27m pension fund.

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