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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jail escapers won't be extradited | Jail escapers won't be extradited |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two men who shot their way out of Brixton prison in London in 1991 while awaiting trial on IRA charges will not be prosecuted. | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service said there was "no realistic prospect" of convicting Pearse McAuley and Nessan Quinlivan. | |
| The move was announced as McCauley from Strabane, County Tyrone, was released from prison in the Irish Republic. | |
| Two other suspected IRA men will also not be pursued. | Two other suspected IRA men will also not be pursued. |
| The CPS said it had advised the Metropolitan Police that it will no longer be seeking the extradition of the four men from Ireland: Nessan Quinlivan, Pearse McAuley, Andrew Martin and Anthony Duncan. | The CPS said it had advised the Metropolitan Police that it will no longer be seeking the extradition of the four men from Ireland: Nessan Quinlivan, Pearse McAuley, Andrew Martin and Anthony Duncan. |
| It said it had considered evidence as well as the likely arguments which would be put forward by the defence, who would argue that an abuse of process had occurred so a trial could not go ahead. | It said it had considered evidence as well as the likely arguments which would be put forward by the defence, who would argue that an abuse of process had occurred so a trial could not go ahead. |
| The CPS said one of the probable defence arguments it considered was "statements made by ministers in respect of terrorists on the run." | The CPS said one of the probable defence arguments it considered was "statements made by ministers in respect of terrorists on the run." |
| Having reviewed the cases, the CPS decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. | Having reviewed the cases, the CPS decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. |
| Bombs | Bombs |
| This means that an extradition can no longer go ahead and the extradition requests to the Irish authorities will be withdrawn. | This means that an extradition can no longer go ahead and the extradition requests to the Irish authorities will be withdrawn. |
| Before their escape Nessan Quinlivan and Pearse McAuley were being held for conspiracy to murder the brewer Sir Charles Tidbury and conspiracy to cause explosions. | Before their escape Nessan Quinlivan and Pearse McAuley were being held for conspiracy to murder the brewer Sir Charles Tidbury and conspiracy to cause explosions. |
| Attempts to return them to England for trial stretch back to the mid-1990s. | Attempts to return them to England for trial stretch back to the mid-1990s. |
| On Wednesday McAuley was freed from Castlerea prison where he had served a sentence for killing Detective Garda Jerry McCabe during an armed raid on a post office van in County Limerick, in 1996. | On Wednesday McAuley was freed from Castlerea prison where he had served a sentence for killing Detective Garda Jerry McCabe during an armed raid on a post office van in County Limerick, in 1996. |
| Anthony Duncan was wanted for questioning over bombs attached to bicycles in Brighton and Bognor Regis in 1994. | Anthony Duncan was wanted for questioning over bombs attached to bicycles in Brighton and Bognor Regis in 1994. |
| Andrew Martin was wanted on bomb making offences and conspiracy to cause explosions. | Andrew Martin was wanted on bomb making offences and conspiracy to cause explosions. |
| He was identified as a suspect in 1995 and arrested in 1998. In 2001 he was successful in appealing against extradition. | He was identified as a suspect in 1995 and arrested in 1998. In 2001 he was successful in appealing against extradition. |