Courts / Dublin / Report

Violent criminal broke loose while boarding extradition flight

Summary

Rafik Ben Salah, 36, was taken to Dublin Airport for extradition to Spain. While being escorted by Gardaí and Spanish police, he violently resisted, broke free from his bonds, and fled. Pursued by officers, he was eventually detained after a struggle on the stairs. Spanish police refused to board him and left Ireland. A second extradition attempt on 22 December 2022 failed when Gardaí discovered Salah had defecated himself and had self‑harm cuts; the Spanish police and flight captain refused him boarding, leading to withdrawal of the warrant. Salah, who has no fixed abode and has prior convictions in Ireland and Germany, pleaded guilty to attempting to escape Garda custody. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to eight months in prison, back‑dated to his earlier custody, after a headline sentence of ten months was reduced for mitigating factors. The sentence is to be served in Ireland.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Violent criminal broke loose while boarding extradition flight. Charges or matters: attempting to escape garda custody while being extradited to Spain on December 9, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• December 9, 2022 Incident
• December 22, 2022 Other
• 2023-12-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report