A 32-year-old Dublin man arrested after completing a sentence in Portlaoise Prison was ordered to be extradited to England yesterday on explosives charges. Andrew Martin, with an address at Portlaoise Prison, appeared in Dublin District Court accused of possessing explosives and conspiracy to cause explosions in London between November 4th and December 22nd, 1988.
The extradition hearing was held in the Bridewell Courthouse although extradition cases have usually been held in the Special Criminal Court in Green Street after an attempt to bomb the Bridewell during the appearance of Dessie Ellis in 1989.
The court heard the defendant was arrested outside Portlaoise Prison on March 28th after completing a 10-year sentence for possession of firearms.
Det Garda James Kelly said he took fingerprints and palm-prints of the defendant at Ballyconnell Garda Station, Co Cavan, in September 1994.
A British forensic expert, Mr John Irving, said the prints matched samples taken from Flat 6, Staplehurst Court, North Cote Road, south-west London on December 22nd, 1988. Judge Miriam Malone granted the extradition request and remanded Martin in custody to be handed over to the London Metropolitan police after 15 days.