Bail denied to woman at centre of German extradition request

A woman has been refused bail in the High Court in Dublin in a case in which the German authorities are seeking her extradition for several alleged offences including theft, fraud and arson.

Barbara Maria Herrmann (51), a mother of one, is wanted in Bavaria, where she faces 22 charges. The allegations against Ms Herrmann, Meadow Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin, relate to incidents in Germany between September 2008 and August 2011.

A European extradition warrant seeking her surrender says she is charged with attempting to petrol bomb her brother’s property in August 2011. She is also wanted on charges of theft and fraud. The warrant says she has been living in Ireland since late 2011.

Yesterday High Court president Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns refused her application for bail pending the determination of the extradition request. That hearing is scheduled for September 13th.

Gardaí had objected to bail on the grounds that she represented a flight risk. She had been on bail following her arrest, on foot of the extradition request, in January.

An arrest warrant was issued by the High Court after she failed to attend a court hearing on May 16th. On that occasion her lawyers told the court she had voluntarily gone back to Germany. She was rearrested in early July and her original bail was revoked. She has been remanded in custody at the Dóchas Centre since.