An independent financial adviser from Dublin, who used to live and practice in Derry, has been returned for trial to the city's crown court charged with stealing more than £230,000 (€340,556) from the Progressive Building Society.

Andrew Folland (37), whose address was given as The Birches, Riverdale, Dundrum, Co Dublin, appeared at a preliminary enquiry before the magistrates' court in Derry yesterday, charged with obtaining by deception through money transfers - one to the value of £148,232 and the other to the value of £82,067 - from the Progressive Building Society. The defendant is further charged with false accounting in relation to a statement of accounts for an investment and share issue scheme and with forging a statement of accounts.

Both of these charges relate to two Progressive Building Society account holders. All four charges are alleged to have occurred in June 2002, when the defendant lived and worked in Derry.

During yesterday's hearing before resident magistrate Barney McElholm, the defendant said he understood the charges.

Mr Folland was remanded on continuing bail, including a surety of £230,000.