The County Cork-born financier, Finbarr Ross, is to face a retrial in Belfast. After talks between the RUC and legal advisers, the office of the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that a fresh hearing would take place. Mr Ross has been on bail since a jury in Belfast last month failed to reach a majority verdict on 39 fraud and false accounting charges. His firm, International Investments Limited, collapsed in l984 with debts of more than £7m.
Finbarr Ross, originally from Dunmanway in County Cork, had been on trial in Belfast facing 39 charges alleging fraud and false accounting. After a hearing lasting six weeks, the Belfast jury failed to reach a majority verdict in the case, and a fortnight ago, Mr Ross was freed on bail. After discussions involving the RUC and legal advisers, the office of the North's Director of Public prosecutions has decided that Mr Ross should face a retrial on the charges.
A court hearing in Belfast this morning was adjourned for a week and will resume next Friday when a date for the new trial is likely to be set. As part of his bail conditions, Mr Ross, who was extradited from America by the RUC, has been staying at his sisters home in Macroom in County Cork, and has to report to police in Newry once a week. Outside court today, he pledged to continue the fight to clear his name.
