A High Court judge has dismissed an attempt by the Minister for Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have adjourned, pending the outcome of proposed criminal proceedings here, an application by the Belgian authorities for the extradition to Belgium of an Irish aviation broker wanted there in connection with the seizure of heroin valued at €10 million.
John Kinsella (36), a former national super-heavyweight boxing champion, of Cairn Wood, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, is wanted on charges relating to the seizure of approximately 50kg (120lb) of heroin at an airfield in Wevelgem, Belgium, on September 26th last.
The Belgian authorities allege that Mr Kinsella helped to recruit people who transported drugs from the airfield to Ireland.
He has consented to his extradition, but the Minister had sought to defer it to facilitate the DPP bringing criminal proceedings here against Mr Kinsella. Mr Kinsella claimed that was an abuse of process.
At the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Michael Peart ruled that the extradition must now either go ahead or the Belgian warrant must be withdrawn. He said that it would be inappropriate to grant the State an adjournment in this matter.
The judge said that the warrant could be withdrawn in the knowledge that a fresh application could be issued when the outcome of the proposed prosecution here was known.