Stephen Andrew McLaughlin ordered surrendered to UK over licence breach

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

The High Court ordered Stephen Andrew McLaughlin’s surrender to UK authorities on 20 June 2024. He was wanted over a breach of his release licence following a conviction for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.

McLaughlin had denied the conspiracy charge. A jury convicted him, and he received a nine-year prison sentence at Basildon Crown Court.

Jane Murphy BL, for the State, told the court that his licence had been revoked for failing to comply with probation services. She said a Southend Magistrates Court warrant was issued in February 2024 and that he had 341 days left to serve.

A separate Northern Ireland warrant concerned seven alleged offences: attempted murder, a threat to kill, criminal damage, two counts of dangerous driving and two counts of assault. The warrant alleged that on 19 September 2022 McLaughlin rammed his former partner’s car, put her in a chokehold and threatened to kill her. It also alleged that he assaulted her female friend.

Murphy said McLaughlin also faced Irish charges of two counts of dangerous driving, a public order offence, simple possession of drugs and possession of a razor blade. He was due before Buncrana District Court on 25 June 2024.

David Perry BL, for McLaughlin, said his client wished to be surrendered rather than wait for the Irish matters to conclude. The judge declined to postpone extradition and remanded McLaughlin in prison for no more than 25 days pending surrender.