Bank of Ireland's finance director Mr Paul D'Alton, who resigns in the next few months, has made a sizeable profit after exercising share options and selling some of the shares into the market.

Mr D'Alton bought 80,000 shares at an option price of €4.53 for a total cost of of €362,400. He then sold 40,000 shares into the market at €10.40 to realise €416,000. The 40,000 shares he retained are worth €410,000 at yesterday's closing price.