McAliskey mounts extradition defence

A defence lawyer has told an extradition hearing in Belfast that Roisin McAliskey was not in Germany at the time it is claimed she was involved in an attack there.

The Provisional IRA fired rockets at a British Army base in Germany in 1996. The County Tyrone woman, a daughter of former civil rights leader, Bernadette McAliskey, is being sought by the authorities there to stand trial in connection with the attack.

Now 35, Roisin was three months pregnant ten years ago when she was first arrested on foot of a German extradition warrant.

After an international human rights campaign against her mistreatment, she was released from Holloway prison just in time to give birth to her daughter. She was subsequently transferred to a psychiatric hospital.

The British home secretary, Jack Straw, then ruled out extradition on health grounds.

The Crown Prosecution Service examined the case and found that there was no prospect of a conviction.

Despite that, the German authorities are again seeking her extradition but her lawyer told last week’s hearing she was working in the North at the time of the IRA bombing.

Sinn Féin Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness has re-iterated the call for the German Authorities to drop their extradition proceedings.

“Over ten years ago these matters had a more than adequate hearing in a succession of British Courts and seven years ago the British Crown Prosecution Service ruled that Roisin McAliskey had no case to answer,” he said.

“Roisin is the mother of two young children and she has lived in Ireland since her release from prison in England the last time that German authorities attempted to have her extradited. She has always maintained her innocence.

“Sinn Féin have been in contact with both the British and German authorities. This extradition attempt should not have proceeded this far and the case should be dismissed. Sinn Féin fully supports Roisin’s campaign for justice.”

Urgent Appeal