Irish court agrees to extradite suspect to Scotland
An Irish court that rejected a previous bid has agreed to the extradition of a 24-yearold man to Scotland – after prison authorities there confirmed they could accommodate his mental health needs.
Last June, the High Court in Ireland refused to extradite Richard Sharples after being told about overcrowding in Scottish jails.
The court heard it would see him locked up for 22 hours a day with less than three square metres of space and that authorities in Scotland had a “poor recognition” of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Justice Paul Mcdermott said that the Scottish authorities did not respond to a request for assurances of specific care for Sharples but outlined general health and NHS policies instead.
He said the response from Scottish prison authorities “failed to directly engage with the court’s concerns”.
At that extradition hearing, Justice Mcdermott found that there was a “real and substantial risk of inhuman or degrading treatment”, should the court order the surrender of Sharples.
Sharples, with a previous address in Co Sligo, is wanted in Scotland for a firearms offence and an assault alleged to have occurred at Cardrona Street, Glasgow, in September 2021.
Last week, on receipt of a new letter from Scottish authorities offering assurances of Sharples’ treatment, Justice Melanie Greally ordered his extradition.
Justice Greally said Justice Mcdermott’s previous ruling on inadequate assurances had now been addressed by the Scottish authorities and that amounted to a “material change in circumstances”.
She said: “I am satisfied that the care-plan for the respondent will be tailored to his needs and that the medical personnel available to him at Low Moss Prison have the relevant skills and experience of persons with ASD and ADHD to cater for his emotional and psychological needs.”
The surrender of the respondent should be completed within 25 days. Sharples was bailed.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “We are committed to collaborating with international justice partners to ensure that justice can be served and the rule of law is upheld.”