An American lawyer representing the Irish former financier, Finbarr Ross, has said his client is in good spirits despite his impending extradition to Northern Ireland.
Mr Ross, who is being held in a federal detention facility near Washington, faces 41 fraud-related charges arising from the collapse of his investment company in 1984.
The FBI arrested Finbarr Ross in March of last year in Oklahoma where he had made his home with a religious community. He has since fought the RUC's extradition request. His lawyer, Tom Patton, argued he never tried to evade the law and said he could not receive a fair trial because too much time has passed since the collapse of his investment company.
International Investments Limited folded in 1984 leaving 1200 investors at a loss - most of them lived in Northern Ireland.
Last night, Mr Patton confirmed that his client is being held at a federal detention facility near Washington and expects to travel back to Belfast in the custody of RUC officers today or tomorrow. He said despite his pending extradition, Mr Ross has a very good spiritual attitude and now just wants to get back to Northern Ireland to face what he has to face.
On his return, Mr Ross is expected to appear before a magistrates court and has hired a Belfast solicitor to represent him.
