In January 2007, Thomas O’Connor was convicted of defrauding HMRC at Blackfriars’ Crown Court. He absconded from his sentencing hearing and was sentenced, in his absence, to 4 years and 6 months in custody.
In 2009, Mr O’Connor had returned to Ireland, where he was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW). The Irish High Court ordered his extradition in December 2014. In October 2015, the Irish Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against extradition, and he further appealed to the Irish Supreme Court which, in February 2017, referred points of law relating to Brexit, to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for determination.
Earlier this month the Irish Supreme Court decided that the CJEU judgment in the case of RO, effectively clarified Mr O’Connor’s legal position and, therefore, there were no matters of EU law at issue in the case. As a result, the reference in Mr O’Connor’s case was withdrawn.
Today Ms Justice Donnelly, sitting in the Irish High Court, lifted the stay on proceedings and ordered that Mr O’Connor be surrendered to the UK.
Categories: Ireland, United Kingdom
Recent Comments