THIS WEEK:THE SAGA OF bankrupt Fermanagh businessman Seán Quinn and his outstanding loans to Anglo Irish Bank (now Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) is set to continue this week, when the Commercial Court hears his case on Thursday.

Last month, Mr Quinn made an unexpected first appearance before the court, arguing against claims by Anglo Irish Bank that he and his family were responsible for some, or all, of the €2.34 billion in outstanding loans made to various companies of the Quinn group. Despite his bankruptcy, he requested to be allowed to personally defend his position and join his family in their case against the bank.

The family hopes to prove their claim that Anglo Irish Bank made the loans to various Quinn companies for the unlawful purpose of supporting the bank's share price.

After declaring that he didn't need much time to prepare his argument, the court will get to hear the defence of the "simple farmer's son", as he described himself, and decide whether he will be entitled to defend himself.