The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, yesterday appealed to the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, not to extradite a Maze escaper convicted in 1978 of the attempted murder of an off duty prison guard.
The decision of the US Supreme Court to clear the way for the extradition of Jimmy Smyth was described by Mr Adams as "a grave disappointment". He said Smyth had been convicted on "spurious grounds".