The High Court has ordered Lucie Balogova’s surrender to Czechia on a European Arrest Warrant seeking her return to serve a six-month prison sentence for theft.
In a judgment delivered on 31 July 2026, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath dismissed Balogova’s objections based on alleged abuse of process and concerns about her trial in absentia.
The case arose from an offence which had already featured in an earlier Czech warrant seeking her surrender for prosecution. While that first warrant was still under consideration in Ireland, the District Court in Frydek Mistek tried Balogova in her absence on 12 August 2025, convicted her and imposed a six-month sentence. A new conviction warrant followed in October 2025.
Balogova argued that the Czech court knew, or should have known, that Irish surrender proceedings were ongoing and should not have proceeded without notifying the High Court. She also argued that her trial rights had been compromised and said the six-month sentence was disproportionate to an offence involving the theft of a chicken wrap valued at €3.25.
The High Court accepted that the Czech issuing court had made a mistake. It found that the Frydek Mistek court had incorrectly concluded from correspondence with Irish authorities that Balogova was a fugitive and had therefore proceeded with the trial in absentia under Czech law.
However, McGrath J found no bad faith, deliberate misuse of the Irish court process or attempt to gain a tactical advantage. He said abuse of process is a narrow jurisdiction and cannot be used simply to rebuke foreign authorities for mistakes, inefficiency or lack of communication.
The Czech authority also confirmed that, if surrendered, Balogova can seek a full retrial or appeal meeting the requirements of Irish and EU law. The High Court said there was no evidence to doubt that assurance or to suggest her fair trial rights would not be respected.
The court dismissed all objections and said it would make a surrender order under section 16 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003.