Man formerly serving life sentence faces extradition over escaping English prison

A 66-year-old man is facing potential extradition to the United Kingdom following his escape from an English prison where he was serving a life sentence for murder. The man had completed twenty-eight years of his sentence before absconding and subsequently relocating to Ireland. He has been resident in the State for eight years, latterly in County Leitrim, having previously lived in County Cork. At a hearing in the High Court, counsel for the Minister for Justice and Equality informed the court that the respondent had expressed remorse for his offence and claimed to have been rehabilitated during his time in Ireland. Counsel for the respondent submitted that his current circumstances rather than historical matters ought to be the focus of the proceedings. Mr Justice John Edwards adjourned the matter, with judgment expected on 27 June 2014.