A Dublin man is to be extradited to Spain immediately after telling a judge he wanted to be sent there “straight away.”
Frederick Thomson (30), of Loreto Road, Maryland, in Dublin's south inner city, is wanted by Spanish authorities to face charges of possession and trafficking of drugs and firearms.
He was arrested last week on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by a judge in Malaga on September 8, 2010, which was endorsed by High Court judge Mr Justice Micheal Peart.
Mr Justice John Edwards today said the extradition order was to take immediate effect after Mr Thompson said he was waiving his right to remain in custody here for 10 days.
Mr Thompson took to the stand and told the judge he consenting to being sent "straightaway" and when asked if he received legal advice he answered: "I did indeed, yeah".
When the judge asked him if he now consented to being extradited Mr Thompson answered: "I do".
Mr Ronan Kennedy BL for the state said Mr Thompson's surrender was sought for three offences.
Mr Kennedy said these include unlawful assembly, which carries a three-year penalty, possession of weapons and arms trafficking, which carries a penalty of two to three years and crimes against public health and drugs offences which carries a penalty of three to nine years.
The judge refused to grant Mr Thompson legal aid after an application from the State.
Mr Kennedy for the DPP said a statement of means showed Mr Thompson was not in receipt of any welfare payments.
He also said he was not registered for tax in this jurisdiction and "seems to be able to travel freely . . . on what source of income I don't know".
However, Mr Thompson's counsel Mr John Berry BL, said his client received €20,000 from two road traffic accident claims and was also being supported by his mother.
"The order has been made but the issue is whether this legal aid is to paid out of the public purse," said the judge. "The declaration of means furnished is very unsatisfactory . . . it is not an appropriate case to grant legal aid," added the judge.
He was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison pending the making of arrangements for sending him to Spain.