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Delay over medical notes in Dessie O'Hare extradition case branded outrageous

Dessie O'Hare
Dessie O'Hare

DELAYS in securing Irish prison medical notes for ex-INLA man Dessie O'Hare's extradition battle are "outrageous", a judge said yesterday.

O'Hare, (60), who was once known as the 'Border Fox', is wanted in the Republic over his alleged role in the imprisonment of a Dublin family.

His legal fight against extradition was due to be heard in Belfast today.

But the case has now been put back amid uncertainty over obtaining the records expected to feature heavily in the case.

During a review at Laganside Courts, Her Honour Judge Patricia Smyth pressed lawyers for an explanation on the hold-up saying she was "completely at a loss to understand" the delay.

O'Hare was detained last November at his Slaterock Road home in Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh.

He is wanted in the Republic in connection with three counts of false imprisonment, threats to kill, grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.

The alleged offences relate to an incident at Garters Lane in Saggart, south Dublin in June 2015.

Judge Smyth insisted the problem over the prison medical records could have been sorted out weeks ago.

Counsel for O'Hare, Sean Devine, claimed authorities in the Republic did not appear to have given it priority.

But the judge was unimpressed by his suggested target date of May 20.

Focussing instead on next Friday, she said: "I expect the Irish Government to have made these notes available by then.

She added: "It's outrageous... there's not going to be any further unnecessary delays."