HL Deb 03 February 1997 vol 577 cc129-30WA
The Marquess of Ailesbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what grounds England was deemed to be the appropriate country for the imprisonment of Ms Roisin McAliskey.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

Roisin McAliskey was arrested in Belfast on the basis of a provisional arrest warrant issued by Bow Street Magistrates' Court on 25th November under Section 8 of the Extradition Act 1989. That Act makes no provision for a separate jurisdiction for Northern Ireland. The court of committal under Section 9 of the Extradition Act can only remand a person in custody to a prison in England or Wales. Roisin McAliskey is currently being held in Holloway prison.