Former financier Mr Finbarr Ross is expected to be sent for a retrial on 39 fraud-related charges by the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions at a hearing in Belfast Crown Court this morning. The trial is expected to be listed for May 8th.

A jury failed to reach a majority verdict in Mr Ross's original trial, which concluded last month after six weeks of hearings. Mr Ross denied the charges.

Mr Ross's firm, International Investments Ltd, collapsed in 1984 with debts of more than £7 million sterling owing to depositors.