Daniel O’Connell ordered extradited over VAT evasion

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

Daniel O’Connell’s extradition to the UK over VAT evasion was ordered by the High Court, reported on 22 February 2019. The order concerned an unpaid confiscation amount of almost £13 million. A stay was later placed on the order while Mr O’Connell sought permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Mr O’Connell had opposed extradition on grounds including delay, indigence and alleged breaches of his rights. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected those grounds, finding no basis to refuse surrender or refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

He had previously been convicted at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court on 9 August 2000 of five VAT-evasion offences. The High Court was told that the confiscation order remained substantially unpaid and that a default prison sentence had been activated.