Murder accused among 47 EU surrenders

A TOTAL of 47 people were returned to Ireland for charges on European Arrest Warrants last year.

The warrants related to a variety of charges including murder, rape, drugs offences, assault and robbery.

The Annual Report of the European Arrest Warrant Act reveals that Ireland issued 76 warrants to other EU member states during 2017, while 357 EAWs were received by Ireland, showing the EU is seeking far more people here than we are seeking from the EU.

The Department of Justice is publishing the report for last year in full today.

While 47 people were returned her on foot of warrants, 60 were returned by Ireland to other EU member states.

The total number of surrenders made to Ireland since 2004 now stands at 478.

Over the course of last year, 73 warrants resulted in the surrender of 60 individuals by Ireland to other member states. Meanwhile, 159 warrants transmitted by the State were still ongoing on December 31, 2017.

The bulk of the warrants received by Ireland come from the UK, followed by Poland.

Announcing the figures, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said the range of crimes noted in the report were extensive.

‘The European Arrest Warrant is a valuable mechanism that helps ensure that dangerous criminals can be apprehended, keeping EU citizens safer as a result,’ he said.

‘It provides for an enhanced extradition process within the European Union, and I note that European Arrest Warrants received during 2017 cited a wide range of offences including murder/grievous bodily harm, sexual offences including rape and sexual abuse of children, drugs offences, robbery/assault, fraud and human-trafficking.’

While the report relates to operational matters concerning the EAW in 2017, the Minister also reflected on the potential impact of Brexit on the extradition process.

‘The departure of the UK from the EU is particularly significant for Ireland on a wide range of issues,’ he said. ‘However, in the context of combating crime and terrorism, the necessity to maintain a functioning system of extradition between the two states has been identified as the key priority.

‘I have requested my officials in the Department of Justice and Equality to examine the implications of Brexit for extradition between the two states and to consider the options available to address the various possible outcomes to the Brexit negotiations.’

The operation of the warrant system, which allows the transfer of suspects between EU countries for trial or imprisonment, is one of the areas of judicial co-operation which could cease in the event of a hard Brexit in March.