State denied permission to appeal extradition refusal for sex offender wanted on historic driving charge

The High Court has refused the State's application for leave to appeal a decision declining to extradite a convicted sex offender to Northern Ireland. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath ruled that the case was exceptional, finding it would be disproportionate to order the surrender of Paul Lomas, aged 41, with an address in County Donegal, given the age of the matters in question and the type of sentence involved. The Northern Irish authorities sought Lomas's surrender for six offences dating back approximately 15 years, including five conviction matters and one charge of driving whilst disqualified from January 2011. The convictions stemmed from assaults on police officers and breaches of a Risk of an Interim Sexual Harm Order imposed following a 2009 conviction. Mr Justice McGrath noted that Lomas had served his custodial sentence for the serious offences and subsequently developed family connections in the State. The judge concluded the case had reached the threshold where refusal of surrender was warranted.