A Limerick financial consultant was given a conditional remand on bail in the city court yesterday on an application by Mr Michael Murray, state solicitor, on the grounds that the accused was not in court. Mr Ted McCarthy, solicitor, handed up a letter to the court which stated that his client was in the regional general hospital undergoing treatment.

Mr Patrick Foote (43) with an address at 46 William Street Limerick, a director of the former Irish Mortgage and Finance Bureau, had made previous appearances on the face of 61 charges of larceny and forgery involving £174,441 between 1996 and 1997.