Courts / Dublin / Report

Algerian man wanted on Islamic Terror charges gets date for extradition hearing

Date
2022-05-25

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Youcef Madani, an Algerian national, was remanded on continuing bail today until his extradition hearing scheduled for June 24 at the High Court. Madani, 53, is wanted in France to serve a six-year prison sentence following a 2001 conviction in his absence for making false documents relating to facilitating terrorism and weapons trafficking. He was arrested in Dublin last September after being stopped while driving under the alias Abderrahmane Yahiaoui, a name linked to him via the Schengen Information System. Detective Garda Robert Comerford of the Extradition Unit opposed bail, citing Madani as a flight risk who fled France during his legal proceedings and possessed skills in creating false paperwork. Despite these objections, Mr Justice Paul Burns granted bail with reluctance. Madani's counsel, Maria Brosnan BL, argued he was not a flight risk, noting his family ties in Ireland, his surrender of his passport, and his receipt of medical disability benefits for partial blindness. The court noted that Madani had been in the process of becoming an Irish citizen. The matter was adjourned to June 24, when legal submissions are expected to be ready for a half-day hearing before Mr Justice David Keane.