It has emerged that a senior Anglo Irish Bank executive was granted immunity from prosecution arising out of any criminal investigations into the bank.

According to the Irish Times, Matt Moran - the chief financial officer of the failed bank and the second most senior member of staff at the time - was given the agreement by the Director of Public Prosecutions two years ago.

Criminal charges have been brought against three other former executives at the bank and their trial is due to begin early next year.

After the bank was taken into State hands, Mr. Moran was promoted to the role of director of group finance in February 2009 under new chairman Donal O'Connor before he left the bank later that year.

He was never a director of the board of the bank. He joined Anglo in 2002 and was a key member of the management team led by chief executive David Drumm after he took up the role of chief financial officer in 2004.

Matt Moran (left) & David Drumm pictured in 2006

In recent years the former banker has been working in Luxembourg where he is chief executive of Lombard International Assurance which offers investments to wealthy clients.

He also featured in recently published 'Anglo Tapes' recordings of conversations between Anglo executives in 2008.

Mr. Moran also helped to set up meetings between Anglo and and then opposition leader Enda Kenny, in late 2008 to push the interests of the bank within political circles, the Irish Times reports.

This followed the introduction of the State bank guarantee as the financial crisis deepened government involvement in the banking sector.

Simon Carswell of the Irish Times told Breakfast here on Newstalk that while Mr. Moran was not a director at the bank, he was still a major figure at the time.