Former financier Mr George Finbarr Ross, who was extradited from the United States last month, was sent for trial yesterday on fraud charges relating to amounts of more than £600,000.

Cork-born Mr Ross (53) was head of International Investments, which collapsed in 1984 allegedly owing Northern Ireland investors £7 million. He was remanded in custody at Belfast magistrates court to stand trial at the Crown Court on 41 counts of false accounting, obtaining property by deception and related charges.