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30 November 2000 Edition

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Extradition to be dropped for some but not all

Former republican prisoners Paul `Dingus' Magee, Angelo Fusco and Tony Kelly were in the High Court in Dublin on Wednesday morning, 29 November, for the first stage of proceedings to formally drop extradition warrants outstanding against them.

The state is applying to the court to drop the charges, following a statement earlier this year from Peter Mandelson that the British would not proceed on 22 outstanding warrants, relating to sentenced republicans who escaped.

As Sinn Féin POW department spokesperson Ann O'Sullivan points out, however, not all outstanding warrants have been dropped. Nessan Quinlivan, Tony Duncan and Andy Martin are all at various stages of the legal process for political extradition. Duncan is awaiting a High Court appeal against his extradition, Martin is awaiting a High Court judgment, but Quinlivan's case is a matter of great urgency, as his Supreme Court appeal against his extradition to England is scheduled for February.

``Many people believe that all warrants were lifted,'' said O'Sullivan, ``but that is not the case. This only applies to 22 people and legalities even in those cases are still being worked out. The position this leaves many others in is unacceptable. All outstanding proceedings must be dealt with immediately as a matter of urgency.''

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