Protest at Spanish treatment of Belfast man

An alleged IRA Volunteer has criticised Spanish authorities for denying his legal rights for ten days before handing him to members of the PSNI police.

Michael Rogan was refused contact with his family or legal representatives after being seized while on holiday in Tenerife.

“I didn’t know where he was,” his lawyer said. “There’s a letter of protest from the Irish government to the Spanish authorities in relation to that.”

He is categorised as an OTR (‘on the run’ from pending prosecution), whose status remains the subject of negotiation in the current talks process.

Rogan is accused of participating in an IRA attack on the British army’s headquarters in Ireland in 1996. One British soldier was killed in the blast which occurred during the breakdown in the peace process under the Conservative government.

As he was brought into the dock at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court, defence lawyer Peter Madden insisted his client would be fighting the case and criticised what he described as inaccurate press reports.

“The object is to try and influence the public in a way by publishing untruths about this defendant and the charges he faces,” he said.

“The defendant was on a week’s holiday in Tenerife and to say he had been living in Spain for some time (is not true).”

Rogan awas extradited following an appearance at the National Criminal Court in Madrid.

Urgent Appeal