One of the Maple Ten investors, Seamus Ross has told a court he was “delighted” to give a “helping hand” to Anglo Irish Bank.

Ross informed the jury that he had a 15-year relationship with Anglo Irish Bank and he considered it to be ‘very strong’, saying he was “delighted” to help the bank in July 2008 when he was asked to buy a stake in Anglo with funding from the bank.

He went on to say that Anglo boss David Drumm directed that the deal was backed by the Financial Regulator and that he was told that the facility was in place to unwind Cavan businessman Sean Quinn’s large stake in Anglo.

Mr Ross said he found it surprising that it was a private rather than a business loan and that he believed that he would not be personally liable for any of the debt.