‘Omagh bomber’ to be sent to Lithuania on terror charges
Liam Campbell loses lengthy legal fight against extradition
THE Supreme Court has ruled that Liam Campbell, who was found civilly liable for the Omagh bombing, can be extradited to Lithuania.
He has been accused by the country of offences that include terrorism, possession of weapons and smuggling.
In what was a lengthy legal battle Campbell, 59, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth, had opposed Lithuania’s request for his surrender.
He had claimed that he should not be surrendered on the grounds that no decision has been taken in that country to try him.
However, that argument was dismissed by a fivejudge Supreme Court. It is expected Campbell will be surrendered to Lithuania in the coming days.
In a European Arrest Warrant the Lithuanian authorities allege that Campbell “made arrangements, while acting in an organised terrorist group, the Real Irish Republican Army to acquire a substantial number of firearms and explosives from Lithuania and smuggle them into Ireland”.
It is further alleged that during the end of 2006 to 2007 Campbell made arrangements with others to travel to Lithuania for the purposes of acquiring firearms and explosives, including, automatic rifles, sniper guns, projectors, detonators, timers and trotyl [TNT].
He was first arrested in the North on foot of a warrant seeking his surrender in 2013. The request was refused by a Belfast court after a judge ruled Campbell was likely to be held in inhuman and degrading conditions if extradited to Lithuania.
He was arrested in Dundalk on December 2, 2016, on foot of the second EAW issued by Lithuanian authorities.
Both the High Court and Court of Appeal had ordered that he be extradited to the Baltic state.
However, he appealed that decision to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear his appeal on the grounds that the Court of Appeal had allegedly erred in finding that a decision has been made in Lithuania to try and charge Campbell in accordance with the laws that govern extraditions between EU member states, namely the 2003 EAW Act.
He claimed that the Lithuanians intended to further question him before making any decision to charge or try him.
In its decision yesterday the five-judge court dismissed Campbell’s appeal.
Ms Justice Baker said that the court was satisfied that a decision has been taken in the requesting state to charge and try Campbell in accordance with the relevant section of the 2003 EAW Act.
Mr Justice Charleton added that similar pre-trial safeguards that exist in Lithuanian law also exist in Irish law.
[Campbell was] acting in an organised terrorist group ACCUSATION MADE IN ARREST WARRANT