Courts / Ireland / Report

Garda informer can use sensitive State material in extradition challenge

Summary

An Irish High Court judge has allowed a former Garda covert informant to use sensitive State documents in his extradition challenge from the UK to France. The informant, who was arrested in France 17 years ago on drug trafficking charges and later sentenced to four years in prison (never served), was detained in England under a European Arrest Warrant issued by French authorities. He seeks to prevent his surrender and has applied to the Irish High Court to use documents obtained from the Garda Commissioner and the State, which he claims will help defeat the extradition request. The State opposed the application, arguing lack of control over the documents and that the request was premature. Justice Marie Baker ruled that special circumstances justified modifying the undertaking, that the English court would provide adequate protection for the documents, and that she would not direct the English court on how to handle them.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda informer can use sensitive State material in extradition challenge. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 2018-04-27 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report