A lengthy legal saga over attempts to extradite four republican prison escapers to Northern Ireland ended at Dublin District Court yesterday when all four warrants were formally discharged. The State said it was no longer pursuing the extraditions.
The president of the District Court, Judge Peter Smithwick, made the orders discharging warrants for Angelo Fusco, Paul Magee, Anthony Kelly and Dermot McNally. After a 10-minute hearing, Judge Smithwick said he was satisfied that the requesting authorities seeking the men's extraditions no longer desired such extradition.
Mr Bryan Murray, for the Attorney General, said High Court proceedings had been taken by the four men challenging their extradition. Following the Belfast Agreement, the authorities who had sought the men's extraditions were no longer pressing the matter.
Consequently, Mr Murray said, he was asking the District Court to discharge the extradition orders against all four.
It is expected the men's High Court challenges will be formally struck out in the light of the District Court decision.