A Basque separatist convicted of 25 murders is believed to have left Northern Ireland, lawyers seeking his extradition to Spain said today.
High Court judges in Belfast were told Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos has not reported to police in the city or been at an agreed address in the city for more than a month.
An application has now been made to revoke bail granted to the 54-year-old ahead of his scheduled appeal against being ordered back to Spain to face a new charge of glorifying terrorism.
De Juana had been living with his wife in west Belfast while fighting the extradition proceedings.
The Basque, who served more than 21 years in jail for his part in an Eta campaign of murders, is wanted over the contents of a letter read out at a rally in San Sebastian the day after his release in August 2008.
The message was allegedly given in his name, with the charge against him heavily dependent on the Basque phrase aurrrea bolie, which translates literally as ‘kick the ball forward’.
He faces the possibility of further imprisonment if convicted of the public justification of terrorist actions which caused humiliation and intensified the grief of victims and their relatives.
Last month the Recorder for Belfast rejected claims that he would not receive a fair trial and may face harsher punishment for his political beliefs.
Judge Tom Burgess held that the underlying principles of the European Arrest Warrant procedure required him to have confidence in the Spanish justice system.
With de Juana’s lawyers claiming any further imprisonment would be inhumane and could leave him facing death due to his fragile mental health, he was due to appeal against the extradition order next month.
Pending that challenge he was required to report daily to Grosvenor Road police station, stay at a known address and observe a night-time curfew.
De Juana had received permission to work at two cafes as part of the bail arrangements.
But Stephen Ritchie, for the Spanish authorities, told the High Court today: “He has not reported to police since March 25th, the day before his case last came before this court.
“He has not been at his home address when police called, or indeed the two named cafes.”
Claiming de Juana was in breach of his release conditions, Mr Ritchie added: “There is good reason to believe he may well have left the jurisdiction.”
The barrister confirmed he was seeking to have bail revoked.
De Juana’s lawyer, Sean Devine, told the court the wanted man had not made contact with his instructing solicitors since March 26th.
Following legal arguments on whether the application should go back to the Recorder, the case was adjourned to allow further prepared submissions.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said: “This is a point where we would want to ensure we give guidance so people will know how they should proceed in these matters.”
PA