Former Anglo Irish Bank Chairman Sean FitzPatrick has walked free from court. He has been acquitted on all charges of providing unlawful financial assistance to 16 individuals to buy shares in Anglo in July 2008.

The majority verdicts acquitting Mr. FitzPatrick (65) came after 13 and half hours of jury deliberations.

The former Anglo Chairman has been found not guilty on 10 charges alleging that he was involved in the illegal lending of money to the Maple Ten to buy shares in the bank.

Last week, he was acquitted by direction of the trial Judge Martin Nolan of providing unlawful financial assistance to the family of Sean Quinn.

Mr. FitzPatrick smiled and shook the hands of his co-accused and his legal team before walking free from court.

He made a brief statement to the large media pack waiting outside in which he thanked his lawyers, the jury for his acquittal as well as family and friends for their support.

He also asked for his privacy to be respected.

The trial continues tomorrow, as the jury returns to court tomorrow morning to continue deliberating on the charges against former Anglo directors Willie McAteer and Pat Whelan.

When he left court earlier, Mr. FitzPatrick was greeted by a media scrum.