New date for extradition hearing of Maze escaper

A DUBLIN court yesterday set a new hearing date for an application to extradite a Maze escaper to Northern Ireland.

Dermot McNally (39), a father of two, was arrested by gardai at his home in Sligo last month on 14 extradition warrants.

The extradition hearing was due to go ahead yesterday but, during a brief appearance at the Dublin District Court, McNally's counsel, Mr Stephen McCann BL, said the State had sought an adjournment.

There was no appearance on behalf of the State at the hearing and Judge Peter Smithwick fixed July 7th as the new date for the extradition application.

McNally, who was freed on bail by the High Court earlier this month, was present for the hearing.

The warrants seeking McNally's extradition relate to making bombs, possession of bombs and bomb making equipment, causing explosions, possession of firearms and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard the warrants allege McNally had been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the various offences and that he unlawfully escaped from custody on September 23rd, 1983.

The warrants seek his extradition to Northern Ireland to complete the remainder of his sentence.

McNally, originally, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, was jailed for life in 1977 for causing explosions. He was given three life sentences for bombings in the North.

He lived openly in Sligo following court rulings in the Republic that prevented the extradition of other Maze escapers.

McNally is one of the 38 IRA prisoners who escaped from the Maze in September, 1983 in the biggest mass break out in British prison history.

Nineteen of the men were recaptured within hours of the escape.

Of the remaining 19, three were killed in SAS ambushes. The rest evaded capture for several years but were eventually detained in the Republic, Britain, Europe and the United States.