Fraud trial jury out

A jury trying former oil company executive Mr John O'Brien over a £7.2 million sterling (€11

A jury trying former oil company executive Mr John O'Brien over a £7.2 million sterling (€11.47 million) stock market fraud were sent home again yesterday as they continue to consider verdicts. Mr O'Brien is accused of staging a share issue by Alliance Resources, knowing the company's rights to exploit a North American oilfield had been lost. Mr O'Brien, of Midleton, Co Cork, is alleged to have deceived investors in the April 1995 rights issue - claiming the well was in production and his company still held title to exploit 1,825 acres of land in Louisiana. He denies five charges of forgery, two of false accounting, and two offences under the Financial Services Act.