FitzPatrick's car to be auctioned for charity

A BMW which belonged to former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick is to go under the hammer for charity. In a unique twist, however, the car itself is not up for grabs, but rather the right to press the button to crush it.

The 3-series 92 D registration BMW was collected by National Recycling from outside Mr FitzPatrick’s home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, yesterday.

The car was liberally coated with grime and leaves and looked as if it had not been driven for some time. It was winched aboard a tow truck as it would not start.

Neither Mr Fitzpatrick nor any members of his family were present when the car was removed. The car had been sold online by the High Court’s official assignee who is dealing with Mr FitzPatrick’s bankruptcy.

Conor Hand, sales manager with National Recycling, said he had bought the car for €1,234.56 in an online auction and that he knew who the previous owner had been.

National Recycling is now planning the auction which will be online. “It will be crushed, same as Anglo,” said Mr Hand, who added that he was neither an account nor shareholder in the bank.

“We have not worked out the details yet, it will take a few weeks,” he said.

Asked if he had decided which charity or charities would benefit from the auction, Mr Hand said he believed St Michael’s House, which provides services for people with learning disabilities, would be among the beneficiaries.