§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's application to Dublin district court for the extradition of Anthony Duncan. [25617]
§ The Attorney-GeneralAnthony Duncan was arrested in the Republic of Ireland on 11 April on domestic charges. He is wanted in this country to face charges in connection with bombs in Brighton and Bognor in August 1994. Extradition between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland takes place under the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 and the corresponding legislation of the Republic of Ireland. In accordance with the provision of that legislation and following my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General's decision to prosecute, the Metropolitan police delivered an arrest warrant for Duncan and supporting papers to their Irish counterparts on 12 April. The original arrest warrant, however, was not produced in the Irish court. There is a conflict of evidence as to how this came about, but a fresh warrant has now been delivered to the authorities in the Republic of Ireland.