The jury in the €52 million theft and fraud trial of former solicitor Thomas Byrne beins a second day of deliberations later.

Byrne (47) of Mountjoy Square, Dublin is alleged to have transferred his clients’ homes into his name and then used them as collateral for borrowings of nearly €52 million.

Thomas Byrne is charged with deception, fraud, forgery and theft on dates between 2004 and 2007.

The jury has made its mind up on some of the charges.

However Judge Patrick McCartan has instructed them to keep deliberating, until they have verdicts on all 50 counts.

Mr. Byrne gave evidence that he drew down millions of euro worth of bank loans, because he was under threat from his former business partner John Kelly.

Judge McCartan has told the jurors they cannot consider this as a defence because Mr Byrne was not under duress in the legal sense of the word.

However when asked by the foreman of the jury whether they should disregard duress in its human sense as put forward by the defence he replied no, adding that they have to have take into account Thomas Byrne’s evidence as to why he did things.