Courts / Waterford / Report
Irish citizen wins US extradition fight on alleged international terrorism charges
Summary
The High Court refused to order the extradition of Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian‑born Irish citizen, to the United States on two alleged terrorism‑related offences. Judge Aileen Donnelly said the Director of Public Prosecutions had abdicated responsibility to consider the proper forum for prosecution and that the State could only appeal her refusal. Damache's objections centred on the conditions of detention he would face in the U.S., including prolonged solitary confinement, lack of outdoor recreation and the possibility of being held in a maximum‑security prison. The judge found that such conditions would breach constitutional rights to bodily integrity and human dignity, and that no meaningful judicial review would be available in the U.S. to challenge them. She also declined to commit Damache to prison while awaiting the Minister's decision on extradition. The case remains pending, with the State able to appeal the refusal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Irish citizen wins US extradition fight on alleged international terrorism charges. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 13, 2009 Other
- March 2013 Incident
- January 2010 Incident
- 2015-05-21 Publication
Why: During the course of the hearing, the High Court heard that the conviction of a person on a terrorism crime is a sufficient reason for transfer to the maximum security ADX Supermax Prison in Florence, Colorado, where prisoners can be held in solitary confinement for up to 22 hours a day and where conditions were described by a former warden as a "clean version of hell". Court evidence reported by CNI
Places mentioned
- The High Court
- High Court
- Supreme Court
- The Supreme Court
- ADX Supermax Prison
- Waterford
- Waterford Courthouse
Topics
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