Dublin men wanted in Northern Ireland granted leave to apply for judicial review

The applications concern an alleged failure by gardaí to provide them with information and records following their arrest in 2015.

Ciaran Maguire, 29, and Sean Paul Farrell, 32, are wanted in connection with the attempted murder of a police officer in 2015 and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life. Both men face life imprisonment on both counts if found guilty.

A European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Ireland authorities in March stated that an Improvised Explosive Device was found under the car of a serving PSNI officer in Co Derry on 18 June 2015.

The warrant stated that the officer’s wife, also a serving PSNI officer, awoke in the early hours of 18 June and looked out her bedroom window and saw a male in the driveway on the ground at the driver’s door of her husband’s car.

The male in the driveway appeared to be working on something underneath the car and the female police officer knocked on her bedroom window causing the male to flee and she called 999. CCTV footage showed a figure at the side of the car and another dark coloured car on the roadway, the warrant stated.

At the scene police confirmed the presence of a suspicious device underneath the car. It was on the ground unattached to the vehicle. An Ammunition’s Technical Officer subsequently confirmed it to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), according to the warrant.

Both men have objected to their extradition on grounds including that they fear for their wellbeing, health and safety.

At the High Court yesterday, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, who is dealing with the extradition proceedings, agreed to hear applications for judicial review by the two men.

The court heard that following their arrests in June 2015 on suspicion of membership of an unlawful organisation, they were taken to different Garda stations and interviewed in the Lifford area of Co Donegal.

Both men had sought documentation including copies of their custody records, copies of statements they made, and details of any samples or items taken from them by gardaí.

Lawyers acting for Mr Maguire sought this information from the Garda Superintendent at Letterkenny Garda Station. Mr Farrell sought the information from the Superintendent at Milford Garda Station.

However, the gardaí have not provided them with the information sought, they claim.

They claim that they are entitled to the information sought and say it is relevant to their ability to defend their extradition proceedings.

Ms Justice Donnelly today granted leave to commence judicial review proceedings. She directed that the papers be filed in respect of the matter with a motion returnable for hearing on 9 October.

The judge also adjourned the extradition proceedings and both men were remanded on continuing bail until that date.

Alison O’Riordan, Ireland International News Agency Ltd.