Extradition deferred for detox programme

A woman whose extradition to Northern Ireland is sought on murder charges has consented to return there but has asked the High Court to defer the extradition for three months to allow her to complete a drug detoxification programme in Mountjoy women's prison.

No detoxification programme is available in prisons in Belfast, the High Court has been told.

The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, yesterday made the order for the extradition of Sarah Jayne Delaney but deferred the case to June 16th so as to allow the State to consider its attitude to her request to be allowed to complete her detoxification.

He said he would hear submissions on that matter on June 16th.

Ms Delaney (29), Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, who is a native of Manchester, was arrested by gardaí earlier this year after she absconded while on bail in Belfast after being charged with the murder of her boyfriend.

Ms Delaney was charged with the murder of William James Shaw on March 18th, 2002, at a premises at Camden Street, Belfast.

Mr Shaw's body was found following a fire in a house at Camden Street, off Lisburn Road.

The extradition application was brought under the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003.

In court yesterday, Dr Michael Forde SC, for Ms Delaney, said she was willing to return to Belfast.

However, she had a history of drug and alcohol addiction and was undergoing a detoxification programme in Mountjoy women's prison and was anxious to complete that prior to her return.

Dr Forde said he understood there were no detoxification programmes available in Belfast prisons and, given that his client was facing murder and arson charges, it was unlikely she would be permitted to attend a detoxification programme outside prison.

Dr Forde said he had a letter from a doctor involved in the programme who believed that best results would be achieved if Ms Delaney were to adhere to the programme for a period between three to six months.

Ms Delaney was asking for a three months deferral of her extradition to complete the detoxification.

Dr Forde said there was provisions under section 18 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 for an extradition to be deferred on humanitarian grounds.

Mr Robert Barron, for the State, said he had not been aware there was to be a formal application under section 18 and needed time to take instructions on this point. It might well be the application would be opposed.

Mr Justice Finnegan said he would examine the other proofs necessary for an extradition order to be made.

Having done so, he said he was satisfied as to those proofs, including a signed consent of Ms Delaney to her extradition, and would make the order sought but adjourn the matter so as to allow the State make submissions on whether Ms Delaney should be allowed complete her detoxification first.