SCOTLAND YARD refused to comment on the extradition row yesterday. But police sources confirmed officers still hoped to extradite Mr Anthony Duncan in connection with an IRA bombing campaign in Britain two years ago.
The Home Office also refused to discuss the case, or the claims that gardai had accidentally shredded the original warrant.
"It is a matter for the Irish police. The Home Office could not possibly comment on the actions of another country's police force. There is nothing else to be said," a spokesman added.
Mr Andrew Hunter, chairman of the Conservative backbench Northern Ireland Committee, described it as "a tragedy, an appalling state of affairs", but refused to criticise Mr Bruton's role.
"I am not convinced by those who have denounced the Taoiseach. I note that many of those people have a track record of actually opposing extradition. The Taoiseach has contributed immensely to the peace process, he added.
However, Mr David Wilshire, vice chairman of the backbench Northern Ireland group, claimed the error was "deliberate" and demanded an apology from the Government.
"If you expect me to believe this is an accident, then you are expecting me to believe the moon is made of green cheese. It just goes to show to what lengths some people in the Republic will go to discredit the British," he said.