Courts / Dublin / Report

Former paramilitary's extradition case has come before "at least nine" High Court judges

Date
2017-11-29
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In 2017 a Belfast man, Francis Lanigan, 53, former republican paramilitary, was still fighting extradition to Northern Ireland for a 1998 murder and a firearms offence. He was arrested in 2013 under a European Arrest Warrant while working as a barber in Dublin, using a false name. Lanigan claims he joined the IRA at 17 and the INLA at 19, was imprisoned in 1984, and later became a significant INLA member. He alleges he was targeted by loyalists and that a 1998 incident led to the death of John Knocker. He argues that state collusion and lack of CCTV evidence undermine the warrant. The High Court ordered his surrender in 2015, but multiple High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and European Court of Justice proceedings continue, with at least nine judges hearing the case. Lanigan remains on bail and his lawyers appeal ongoing orders. The unnamed man was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former paramilitary's extradition case has come before "at least nine" High Court judges. Charges or matters: being part of an INLA active service unit and sentenced to ten years imprisonment in the "Republican H Block". Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: Gardai were aware Mr Lanigan was living under that name before his arrest because a detective had covertly gone to the gym where he worked, had done a DNA test on a coffee cup and ascertained that the man living as "Ciaran McCrory" was really Mr Lanigan. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed man

Defendant

Charges: being part of an INLA active service unit and sentenced to ten years imprisonment in the "Republican H Block" (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; He stated that in 1984, he was convicted of being part of an INLA active service unit and sentenced to ten years imprisonment in the "Republican H Block".

Places mentioned

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

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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