Brexit leaves company director wanted for tax fraud in "legal limbo", High Court told

A construction company director from Roscommon faces uncertainty over his extradition to the United Kingdom, the High Court heard on 4 July 2017. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 49, was convicted in his absence at Blackfriars Crown Court of involvement in a £5 million tax fraud and sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment in January 2007. Following extradition proceedings begun in 2009, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court dismissed his appeals in 2015 and March 2017 respectively. His counsel argued that Brexit creates a "legal limbo" for Mr O'Connor, contending he should have a complete re-hearing due to uncertainty surrounding the protection of his rights after the UK's planned departure from the European Union on 29 March 2019. The State's counsel countered that such concerns were premature speculation, noting no evidence suggested Mr O'Connor would lose fundamental rights. Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded him on continuing bail, with the hearing adjourned to resume the following day.