Courts / Waterford / Report
"Damache Day": hearings set to go ahead on Irish citizen wanted on international terrorism charges
Summary
The Court of Appeal has provisionally fixed October 28 for two sets of proceedings concerning Ali Charaf Damache, an Irish-Algerian citizen wanted by US authorities on international terrorism charges. The Attorney General is appealing the High Court's May refusal to order Damache's surrender, a decision based on Justice Aileen Donnelly's finding of a real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment in the USA. Although Damache's barrister, Mark Lynam BL, stated that Damache is currently undergoing extradition proceedings in Spain following his arrest there, the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to proceed with the appeal. Simultaneously, Damache is appealing the severity of his sentence for sending a menacing phone call to Majed Moughni in January 2010. Damache initially pleaded not guilty at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court but pleaded guilty on the sixth day of his trial. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, by Judge Donagh McDonagh on February 27, 2013. The State has argued this sentence appeal is moot given the extradition developments. Justice George Birmingham agreed to hear all matters on the same date. The US alleges Damache conspired with Colleen LaRose, known as "Jihad Jane," to create a terror cell and facilitate identity theft for Al Qaeda members. LaRose was jailed for ten years in 2014 for a plot to murder cartoonist Lars Vilks. If convicted in the US, Damache faces up to 45 years in prison.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Damache Day": hearings set to go ahead on Irish citizen wanted on international terrorism charges. Charges or matters: sending a menacing phone call to Majed Moughni in January 2010 but pleaded guilty to the charge on day six of his trial; the charge of sending a menacing message. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 28 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 27, 2013 Incident
- 2016-05-09 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: sending a menacing phone call to Majed Moughni in January 2010 but pleaded guilty to the charge on day six of his trial; the charge of sending a menacing message (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended by Judge Donagh McDonagh at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court on February 27, 2013. In January of 2014 LaRose was jailed for ten years by a Philadelphia judge, having admitted her involvement in a plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who sparked an international controversy by depicting the Prophet Mohammed on the head of a dog.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- High Court
- Waterford
- Waterford Circuit Criminal Court
- The High Court
- High Street
- Waterford
- Waterford Courthouse
Topics
Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime
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