on THE GERMAN government are still seeking the extradition of Róisin McAliskey in connection with the bombing seventeen months ago of the Osnabruck barracks.
Róisin is still in the mother and baby unit of a London psychiatric hospital, where she gave birth five months ago to her daughter, Loinnir. Doctors have advised that she is not well enough to appear in court.
Roisin is suffering from severe post traumatic stress disorder as a result of her experiences at the hands of the RUC in Castlereagh and the British prison system.
On September 30, stipendiary magistrate Nicolas Evans refused to make an extradition order in Róisin's absence. He made clear that he would have granted the order had she been there, but would not do so without her presence and ordered her to appear for the next hearing.
Both Róisin's lawyer and counsel for the German government were prepared for the order to go ahead without Róisin in court. Indeed it would have been helpful to Róisin if things had proceeded this way, as then she would have been able to either appeal to the High Court or apply to a judicial The eventual say will lie with Home Secretary, Jack Straw. Instead of moving towards these targets, Róisin is stuck in a very destructive limbo.
Bernadette McAliskey said afterwards "This is just getting crazier and crazier by the minute. Now we cannot get this out of court. Meanwhile this is all affecting my daughter's health. I think she will be very seriously set back by the proceedings."
An attempt by Gareth Pierce, Róisin's lawyer, to persuade the magistrate to move the hearing to the hospital where Róisin was staying failed on October 23, the date of the subsequent court sitting. Róisin's case will be considered again on November 10.
The German arrest warrant relies on the evidence of an eye witness who has since retracted his statement - on German television.
Róisin
McAliskey Roisin Róisin McAliskey