18 December 1997 Edition
McAliskey breakthrough
Roisin McAliskey's lawyers are now free to test the evidence in her extradition case after three high court judges in London ruled that magistrate Nicholas Evans was out of order to delay hearing the case on the grounds of Roisín's inability to attend court due to ill health.
The ruling `for' Roisín came after a joint application by Roisín's lawyer, Gareth Pierce and the British prosecutors.
Bernadette McAliskey, Roisín's mother, welcomed the ruling but warned that proceeding with the case was still at the discretion of the magistrate. Although the case is provisionally set to be heard in the New Year, meaning a second Christmas incarcerated for Roisín and the first for baby Loinnir, there is a hope that the urgency of her case will mean an earlier hearing. British Home Secretary Jack Straw will have the final say in the case and could rule that in the interests of justice the extradition must be stopped.
The ruling `for' Roisín came after a joint application by Roisín's lawyer, Gareth Pierce and the British prosecutors.
Bernadette McAliskey, Roisín's mother, welcomed the ruling but warned that proceeding with the case was still at the discretion of the magistrate. Although the case is provisionally set to be heard in the New Year, meaning a second Christmas incarcerated for Roisín and the first for baby Loinnir, there is a hope that the urgency of her case will mean an earlier hearing. British Home Secretary Jack Straw will have the final say in the case and could rule that in the interests of justice the extradition must be stopped.