Polish man due to be extradited refuses to board flight due to ‘fear of flying’

A Polish national, due to be extradited to serve two prison sentences in his home country, refused to board a flight at Dublin Airport on Thursday because of a “fear of flying,” the High Court has been told. Det Garda Sgt Jim Kirwan told Mr Justice Richard Humphreys that when brought to the boarding gate by gardaí, Piotr Skiba refused to get on the aircraft and expressed a fear of flying.

Mark Lynam, for Skiba – sentenced to imprisonment for nine months and for 18 months for burglaries in Poland – told the court that Skiba’s solicitor had on December 9th already warned the State Solicitor of his fear of flying. Det Sgt Kirwan said it was December 12th when he had received any indication of Skiba’s fear of flying and he was sceptical because his dread of flying had been introduced at such a late stage.

He said that once an extradition order was made by a court, the authorities had 10 days in which to deliver up the subject of the extradition request and that time would now expire on Christmas Day.

Kathleen Leader, for the State, said that unless the court granted the State a 10-day extension during which the extradition could be carried out, the authorities would have to release Skiba from detention.

Det Sgt Kirwan said that if the State had to extradite Skiba by sea and land, the Garda authorities would have to notify the security services of every country Skiba would have to cross in order to make arrangements for his transport and delivery to Poland. Approval would have to be sought in each country.

Mr Lynam told the court that Skiba, who was married with four children in Ireland, had not been asked for medical evidence to demonstrate he had a fear of flying. He had not been asked if he had such a fear until he had been taken to the airport. Det Sgt Kirwan said Skiba was “not a happy man” when asked to accompany gardaí on to the aircraft.

Mr Justice Humphreys granted the State solicitor an extension of time for the extradition to January 5th. He directed that he be detained at Mountjoy Prison in the meantime. Ms Leader told the court that any time Skiba would spend in prison would be credited to him when serving his sentences in Poland.