Court of Appeal dismisses appeals and orders surrender of men facing murder, attempted murder and firearms offences

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal dismissed appeals by JOHN EDWARD ANTHONY MCNICHOLL and SÉAMUS CHRISTOPHER O'KANE and ordered their surrender to Northern Ireland under High Court orders dated 4 June 2025. The judgment was delivered by Alexander Owens J. on 16 March 2026. Neither man’s trial outcome is reported.

The TCA arrest warrant alleges that McNicholl murdered Constable Robert McPherson and attempted to murder Constable William Elliott at Dungiven on 26 July 1975. It also alleges four offences involving possession of explosive substances, firearms and ammunition at Garvagh on 16 February 1976. O'Kane faces the corresponding Garvagh possession offences. The Court said delay and the men’s health, home and family circumstances did not justify refusing surrender; it said they had no legitimate expectation of permanent immunity. They can apply for bail and early trials in Northern Ireland.