UK's Legacy Act prompted Northern Irish authorities to pursue 49-year-old murder case, court told

A 72-year-old man from Letterkenny, Co Donegal is fighting extradition to Northern Ireland on charges relating to a 1975 police constable's murder, the High Court in Dublin heard. John Edward McNicholl and a second man, aged 73, face allegations stemming from an investigation into the death of Constable Robert John McPherson in Co Derry on 26 July 1975. The court was told that extradition warrants were issued four days before the UK's Legacy Act came into force, legislation which restricts Troubles-era prosecutions. Mr McNicholl's counsel argued the proceedings constitute an abuse of process and harassment, noting authorities had repeatedly decided against seeking his client's surrender over decades before pursuing him now. Similar arguments were raised regarding the second defendant. The Minister for Justice's counsel contended that abuse-of-process claims are matters for Northern Irish courts. Mr Justice Pat McGrath deferred judgment and adjourned the case to 16 December.