High Court orders extradition of company director wanted over £5m tax fraud

The High Court has ordered the extradition of a Roscommon man wanted in the United Kingdom for involvement in a £5 million tax fraud. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 50 and resident at Cloughbeirne, The Walk, County Roscommon, was convicted at Blackfriars Crown Court in London in January 2007 following a six-week trial and sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for defrauding the British revenue. He failed to attend his sentencing hearing while on bail and faces additional charges of absconding. O'Connor had opposed his extradition on various grounds, including concerns related to Brexit. However, the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal on 24 October 2018, with Chief Justice Frank Clarke stating he had been afforded ample opportunity to raise relevant objections. Justice Aileen Donnelly ordered his surrender to UK authorities effective 31 October 2018.