Fianna Fáil TD Ó Cuív defends asking question for INLA murderer
FIANNA Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív has defended asking the Justice Minister a question on behalf of jailed paramilitary killer Declan ‘Whacker’ Duffy.
The former INLA leader is due to be extradited to the North next month to serve the remainder of a life sentence for murdering a British soldier. But he has submitted a request to be allowed serve out the term in an Irish prison.
Mr Ó Cuív asked Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan earlier this month when a response would be issued to the jailed terrorist’s request, saying there was “an urgent need for a detailed reply”.
Duffy’s counsel, Mark Lynam BL, yesterday told the High Court a TD had asked Mr Flanagan for an update and the minister’s response was that the application was getting the “necessary attention”.
Mr Ó Cuív confirmed to the Irish Independent he was the
TD in question. But he insisted his asking of the parliamentary question did not mean he had made a representation on behalf of Duffy.
“Did I make a representation? No. Did I ask for a speedy reply to a letter? The very simple answer is: Yes, I did,” he said. “Because I believed it was a reasonable request to ask that the letter would be replied to in a timely manner.
“Did I make a representation as to what the decision should be? No. Not in this case.”
Duffy (46) had been serving a life sentence for the 1992 murder of British army sergeant Michael Newman in Derby when he was released on licence by the Northern Irish parole board in March 2013.
He was arrested two and a half years later for his role in an attack on a man in Saggart, Co Dublin, on June 9, 2015.
Duffy was sentenced to six years for the attack.
His arrest in Dublin meant he had breached the conditions of his release by the Northern Ireland authorities and he is due to be extradited back there when his sentence expires on June 4.
Mr Lynam asked Mr Justice Paul Burns to postpone the extradition beyond June 4 on “humanitarian” grounds due to Duffy’s concern for the health of a relative and that his rehabilitative steps in the Republic would be set at nought in the North.
Counsel for the Justice Minister, Ronan Kennedy SC, said Duffy was not entitled to a postponement on “humanitarian” grounds. It was only warranted where there is a danger to life and health, he said.
Mr Justice Burns said he was sympathetic towards Duffy. He put the matter back one week for further evidence.