Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 5

Written Answers. - Extradition Request.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

134 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will state, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare now serving three months for motoring offences, the number and location of the various places at which he has been detained since 6 January 2001; the various charges for which he has been sentenced; the circumstances of his arrest; the extent and seriousness of charges pending in another jurisdiction; if such charges usually merit extradition; if he is being extradited on foot of these charges or if there are other charges pending in view of the fact that he has lived continuously here for the past four and a half years; the number of extradition cases where similar charges were handled by the Criminal Assets Bureau in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9417/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The person concerned was arrested on 6 January 2001 on foot of seven warrants received from the United Kingdom authorities seeking his extradition in connection with charges of burglary and theft and he was brought before the courts on that date.

I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prisons Service that he was committed to Cloverhill Remand Prison later that day on foot of a committal warrant under the Extradition Act, 1965, ordering his detention pending a further appearance in relation to this issue at the Dublin Metropolitan District Court.

He was subsequently transferred to Mountjoy Prison on 12 January 2001 to serve a three month prison sentence in accordance with a committal warrant reissued in the Dublin Metropolitan District Court on that date. This sentence was originally imposed on 25 March 1999 for the offence of having no insurance on his motor vehicle.

The prisoner completed this sentence on 19 March 2001 and was then transferred to Cloverhill Remand Prison, where he is currently held on foot of seven orders for extradition issued by the Dublin Metropolitan District Court on 14 March 2001.

The requirements and the procedures to be followed in respect of extradition from Ireland to Britain and Northern Ireland are governed by Part III of the Extradition Act, 1965, as amended. The Criminal Assets Bureau is not involved in extradition cases from Ireland.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is one outstanding burglary charge in this jurisdiction in respect of this person.