A convicted murderer who fled to Ireland following his escape from an English prison has been granted leave to appeal an extradition order to the Supreme Court. Anthony Craig, aged 66, was convicted of murder in Blackburn in 1973. In July, the High Court decided to surrender him to UK authorities, but the order was not finalised. Mr Justice John Edwards allowed Craig to remain on bail pending a Supreme Court application. The judge also granted similar leave in the related case of Michael Anthony Balmer, aged 62, convicted of murder in Devon in 1983. Both cases raise a constitutional question concerning whether surrendering individuals who have completed their punitive sentences to serve preventative detention violates Irish constitutional protections. The judge deemed the issue of exceptional public importance. Craig was arrested in February 2013 on an extradition warrant after escaping from lawful custody. He had previously resided in Cork and Leitrim. The men were remanded notionally until 28 October.
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