Hardy to face charges in Germany

A north Belfast man wanted by the Germans over an IRA mortar bomb attack on a British army base has voluntarily travelled to Germany, it has emerged.

Leonard Hardy was arrested last year while in Spain in relation to warrants issued by the German authorities. He travelled to Germany on Monday having made contact with German authorities through his lawyer.

Mr Hardy was arrested last August in a hotel in the Spanish holiday resort of Torremolinos on a European arrest warrant.

He is accused of having taken part in the attack on a British base in Osnabrueck in 1996, in which one bomb exploded but caused no injuries.

Roisin McAliskey, daughter of prominent republican Bernadette McAliskey, was also arrested over the attack and subsequently became the subject of an international controversy over British human rights abuses.

Mr Hardy had been living in County Louth when he went to Torremolinos last year on holiday.

He was arrested at the Hotel Sol Principe, where he had been staying.

Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan called for Mr Hardy’s immediate release.

“He shouldn’t be locked up, in my view. The alleged offences predate the Good Friday Agreement, and Leonard is a firm supporter of the Good Friday Agreement.

“He should be released immediately and permitted to rejoin his family,” said the Louth TD.

Mr Hardy has now been released on bail in Germany pending trial. Although the German Government is not a signatory to the Good Friday Agreement, it is hoped that it will be taken into account in any future proceedings.

Urgent Appeal