The jury in the trial of the former financier Mr Finbarr Ross was sent away for the weekend yesterday evening, after considering its verdict for more than five hours. It chose to meet again at Belfast Crown Court on Monday morning.
"This case is far too important for there to be a pressure of time," said Mr Justice Gillen to the jury, before offering the six women and five men the opportunity to reconvene this morning.
After four hours of deliberations, Mr Justice Gillen told the jury he would accept a majority verdict of 10 to 1 as a minimum but said its primary duty was to reach a unanimous verdict.
Mr Ross faces 39 fraud and false accounting charges relating to his management and ownership of International Investments Ltd, which collapsed in 1984 with debts of more than £7 million sterling.
The prosecution alleged in three of the charges that Mr Ross illegally sought money from clients at a meeting of depositors and brokers in Belfast in December 15th, 1983. Mr Ross also faces 36 false accounting charges.
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