Vol. 466 No. 4
220 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the office that was responsible for the organisation of required witnesses at the first hearing of the recent Anthony Duncan extradition case; whether a senior British policeman was actually present in court on the date of the unsuccessful hearing; and if so, whether this policeman was subsequently interviewed, or questioned, as to his involvement in this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11489/96]
The Office of the Chief State Solicitor advises the Garda Síochana as to what witnesses are required in cases of this nature. It is then a matter for the Garda Síochána, with the assistance of their counterparts in the United Kingdom where necessary, to arrange the attendance of those witnesses. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in this case, the arresting member of An Garda Síochána was the only witness required to be present in court.
A detective superintendent from the Metropolitan Police of New Scotland Yard, London was present in court on the date of the unsuccessful hearing. I am informed by the Attorney General's office that the solicitor of the State, having asked the court to allow the matter to stand, discussed the problem which has arisen with the relevant Garda Síochána and with the detective superintendent from London. As the Deputy will be aware from my statement of 23 May, a decision was taken not to proceed with the application and Mr. Duncan was accordingly discharged. The subsequent investigation of the matter included interviews with the officer from the London Metropolitan Police who was present in the court and others having an input on obtaining and conveying the extradition warrant to the Garda authorities.
