Extradition of men wanted for attempted murder of PSNI officer should be refused, lawyers say

Two Dublin men wanted in Northern Ireland on charges of attempted murder of a Police Service of Northern Ireland officer have had their extradition hearing opened at the High Court. Ciaran Maguire, aged 29, and Sean Paul Farrell, aged 32, are also charged with possession of explosive substances with intent to endanger life. Both face potential life sentences if convicted. According to a European Arrest Warrant, an improvised explosive device was discovered at a police officer's home in County Donegal in June. The men were arrested in County Donegal on suspicion of membership of an unlawful organisation. Their legal representatives objected to extradition today, arguing that their clients were not adequately warned during interviews at Milford Garda Station that silence could be used against them in Northern Irish courts. Counsel submitted that Northern Ireland's rules allowing judges to draw adverse inferences from an accused's failure to testify breach constitutional protections afforded in the State. The hearing before Mr Justice Donald Binchy is expected to conclude tomorrow.