Courts / Roscommon / Report

High Court rejects bid to appeal extradition over Brexit

Date
2017-07-29
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Roscommon
County
Roscommon

Summary

The High Court has rejected an application for leave to appeal against the extradition of a Roscommon man wanted in the United Kingdom in connection with a tax fraud investigation. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 49 and resident in Roscommon, had sought to challenge his surrender to British authorities on grounds relating to the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. His legal team argued that Article 50 notification created uncertainty regarding the protection of his fundamental rights post-Brexit. Justice Aileen Donnelly declined the application, finding no evidence of real risk to his rights. The court had previously granted a temporary postponement of Mr O'Connor's extradition on humanitarian grounds. A stay on the extradition order has been granted to permit an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: High Court rejects bid to appeal extradition over Brexit. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: His counsel had argued that he was entitled to have a "second shot" because of the passing of Article 50 in the UK parliament and that "no provision" had been adopted in the UK to protect Mr O'Connor's rights after March 2019, when the country is expected to leave the EU. CNI source report

Case subjects

Thomas Joseph O'Connor

Appellant

Outcome: In January 2007 at Blackfriars Crown Court in London, O'Connor was sentenced, in his absence, to four-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding the British revenue.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • The High Court
  • High Court
  • Court of Appeal
  • Supreme Court
Residence

Topics

Fraud Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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