Man wins challenge to extradition

A Dublin man yesterday won his High Court challenge to an order for his extradition to Britain

A Dublin man yesterday won his High Court challenge to an order for his extradition to Britain. Andrew Martin, who is in his 30s, was ordered by the District Court in 1998 to be extradited to Britain on charges of conspiracy to cause explosions and possession of an explosive device between November 4th, 1988, and December 12th, 1988.

Martin, of Rory O'Connor House, Hardwicke Street, had been arrested in March 1998 on British warrants on his release from Portlaoise prison where he had been serving a sentence on a separate matter. He was granted bail shortly afterwards and has been on bail since.

Yesterday, the High Court found in favour of Martin in his challenge to the extradition order on grounds of delay by the British authorities in issuing the extradition warrants, which did not take place until December 1995, and which were executed here in 1998.

Mr Justice Daniel Herbert said he had little option but to direct the man's release.