Man fights extradition to North on charge of attempted murder of PSNI officer

A man from Dublin has appealed his extradition to Northern Ireland on a charge of attempted murder of a Police Service of Northern Ireland officer. Ciaran Maguire, aged 29, and a co-accused were arrested in County Donegal and are wanted in connection with the alleged attempted murder of a police officer and possession of explosive substances with intent to endanger life. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The High Court ordered Mr Maguire's surrender in February, but leave to appeal was granted the following month. At the Court of Appeal hearing, his legal team argued that his exercise of the right to silence during interviews at Milford and Letterkenny Garda Stations could be used adversely against him in Northern Ireland proceedings, raising constitutional concerns. The State's counsel contended that Northern Irish authorities had confirmed adverse inferences would not be drawn from his silence. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on whether Mr Maguire's constitutional rights would be egregiously breached by his return for trial.