FORMER HEAD OF the Irish Nationwide Building Society Michael Fingleton has died at the age of 88. Fingleton was at the helm of the building society for nearly four decades, from 1971 up until 2009. Before joining Irish Nationwide, he spent time at Allied Irish Finance, the Dairy Disposal Agency and Concern. A lengthy civil trial that concluded last year examined accusations that Fingleton negligently mismanaged Irish Nationwide before it collapsed after failed financial and property “gambles”. Over the years, Fingleton built up Irish Nationwide into a major player in the Irish finance sector, providing mortgages and commercial lending services.