Courts / Waterford / Report

Brexit related extradition argument "wild speculation"

Date
2016-10-14

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Waterford

Summary

The High Court ordered the extradition of Robert Donovan, a 57‑year‑old convicted murderer, to the United Kingdom. Donovan had been serving a life sentence for the 1974 murder of Mr. Thornley on a London bridge and had been temporarily released from a UK prison in June 2010 with a duty to return by 19.30 hours. He failed to return, was considered unlawfully at large, and was believed to be residing in Waterford. Gardai arrested him on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities in November 2014. The judge, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, found no basis for concern that his rights would be violated if surrendered and dismissed the claim that the UK's exit from the EU posed a threat to his ECHR rights. Donovan was remanded in custody until the expected surrender date of 21 October.