Courts / Derry / Report
Pensioners can appeal extradition to NI over 1975 murder of RUC officer
Summary
Two men in their 70s have been granted leave to appeal their extradition to Northern Ireland on charges connected to the 1975 murder of an RUC officer. At the High Court, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath ruled that while authorities had provided detailed explanation for the delay in seeking their surrender, this was incomplete and included lengthy periods of inaction. John Edward McNicholl, of Newmills, Letterkenny, County Donegal, and Seamus Christopher O'Kane, of Scalestown, County Meath, face charges arising from the investigation into the death of Constable Robert John McPherson, shot in an ambush in County Derry on 26 July 1975. Both men escaped from the Maze Prison in May 1976 before trial. The judge certified questions for the Court of Appeal regarding whether the 48-year delay constituted abuse of process and whether the omission to seek surrender for all original offences was an abuse of process. Both men were remanded on continuing bail pending further hearing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pensioners can appeal extradition to NI over 1975 murder of RUC officer. Charges or matters: murdering Constable McPherson and attempted murder while Mr O'Kane is charged with possession of firearms, including an RUC-issued firearm taken during the ambush on Constable McPherson. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 26, 1975 Incident
- May 1976 Incident
- February 16, 1976 Incident
- February 17 1976 Incident
- May 5, 1976 Incident
- 2025-06-04 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: murdering Constable McPherson and attempted murder while Mr O'Kane is charged with possession of firearms, including an RUC-issued firearm taken during the ambush on Constable McPherson (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: The legal team for each accused man was told that they would be given time to consider the wording of these questions and the matter was adjourned to tomorrow, with the two remanded on continuing bail.
Appellant
Charges: murdering Constable McPherson and attempted murder while Mr O'Kane is charged with possession of firearms, including an RUC-issued firearm taken during the ambush on Constable McPherson (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: The legal team for each accused man was told that they would be given time to consider the wording of these questions and the matter was adjourned to tomorrow, with the two remanded on continuing bail.
Places mentioned
- High Court
- Court of Appeal
- Maze Prison
- Dungiven Main Street
Topics
Related court reports
- Pensioners to be extradited to NI over 1975 murder of RUC officer
- UK's extradition request over 1975 murder of RUC officer an 'abuse of process', men to argue
- TD offers bail surety for man accused of murdering RUC officer
- Pensioner appears before High Court after arrest in connection with 1975 murder of RUC officer
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