"Until the UK is gone, it’s in": judge says extradition application must be dealt with as before

The High Court has scheduled judgment for 12 February on extradition proceedings against two Dublin men sought by Northern Irish authorities for alleged attempted murder of a police officer and explosives offences. Ciaran Maguire, aged 29, and Sean Paul Farrell, aged 32, face potential life sentences if convicted in Northern Ireland. Legal arguments arose concerning Brexit's implications for the European Arrest Warrant framework. Mr Justice Donald Binchy indicated the UK remained an EU member for extradition purposes pending formal withdrawal procedures. Defence counsel raised concerns about interviews conducted at Milford and Letterkenny garda stations, arguing Northern Ireland's adverse-inference rules presented constitutional difficulties. Northern Irish prosecutors confirmed they would not seek adverse inferences from the men's silence during questioning. The judge indicated this response appeared to address the defence submissions substantially, though reserved final determination pending the scheduled judgment delivery.