Courts / Fermanagh / Report
Legal question over republican "on-the-run" letters in Downey extradition is finalised
Summary
The High Court has finalised the legal basis on which John Downey may appeal his extradition to Northern Ireland. Mr Justice Aileen Donnelly, the presiding extradition judge, rejected multiple objections to his surrender before granting leave to appeal on Wednesday. The judge determined that questions of exceptional public importance arise regarding assurances given by the UK Government to republican paramilitaries and whether these may have been used to gather evidence against them. Mr Downey, aged 67, was arrested in November 2018 at his home in Creeslough, County Donegal, following a European Arrest Warrant issued in relation to a 1972 car bombing in Enniskillen that killed two British soldiers. He had argued extradition would constitute abuse of process, citing a 2007 comfort letter from Northern Irish authorities. Ms Justice Donnelly rejected all objections and found the comfort letter did not constitute amnesty. Mr Downey remains on continuing bail pending the Court of Appeal hearing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Legal question over republican "on-the-run" letters in Downey extradition is finalised. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 2018 Adjournment
- October 2018 Adjournment
- August 25, 1972 Other
- July 2007 Other
- May 2013 Incident
- February 2014 Incident
- August 31, 1972 Other
- December 10, 1979 Other
- May 19, 2013 Incident
- 2019-03-08 Publication
Places mentioned
- High Court
- Court of Appeal
- Creeslough
- Donegal
- London Hyde Park
- Hyde Park
- Irvinestown Road
Topics
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