High Court rejects UK extradition request over sexual assault charges

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

The High Court rejected a UK request to extradite an unnamed 34-year-old man on 3 March 2016 to face two charges of sexual assault.

Liverpool Magistrate’s Court wanted the man over allegations involving a girl aged six. The alleged assaults dated from January to June 1994, when he was 13. The proceedings were reported on 3 March 2016.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt found that a substantial delay had occurred between the complaint and the prosecution. He rejected the UK authorities’ explanations for the administrative delay and considered that it weakened the otherwise strong public interest in extradition.

The judge said delay by the complainant was not relevant to the issue before him.

The man was kept on his existing bail until 16 March, when his discharge from the court was due.

His family applauded the refusal to surrender him. Mr Justice Tony Hunt told them their applause was unwelcome and could be premature.

The man cannot be identified for legal reasons. The ruling concerned extradition to face the allegations; it was not a verdict on the charges.