Scottish separatist’s appeal against extradition to UK dismissed

The Supreme Court has dismissed a Scottish separatist's appeal against an order for his extradition to the UK on terrorism charges.

The appeal was brought by Adam Busby, with a last address at Santry Lodge, Ballymun, Dublin, who is wanted by Scottish authorities for allegedly making a series of hoax threats between November 2009 and June 2010.

In 2013, the High Court made an order for his surrender and the matter was appealed to the Supreme Court on a point of law.

Mr Busby (65), a father of two who has lived in Ireland for more than 30 years, has multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair. He will remain on bail until next Tuesday's sitting of the High Court, when an application will be made arising from his health.

A five-judge Supreme Court – comprising the Chief Justice, Ms Justice Susan Denham, Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, Mr Justice Donal O' Donnell, Mr Justice Liam McKechnie and Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne – unanimously rejected the appeal, brought on a point of law deemed by the High Court as of exceptional public importance.

The court was asked to determine whether it is necessary to show the State executing the extradition warrant could prosecute the offence on a similar basis to the jurisdiction that issued the warrant. Giving the court’s judgment, the Chief Justice said, when well established principles of case law are applied, it was not necessary.

The charges allege Busby, purporting to be the Scottish National Liberation Army, telephoned the Scottish Sun newspaper in Glasgow in 2009, and threatened to contaminate the drinking water of major UK towns and cities.

Also in 2009, it is alleged Busby sent the same newspaper a text message claiming various packages containing caustic and poisonous substances had been sent to public figures, including then UK prime minister Gordon Brown.

In 2010 he is also alleged to have telephoned bodies, including the Samaritans in Glasgow, claiming bombs would detonate at the Argyll Arcade and the Hilton Hotel in the city. That same year he is alleged to have telephoned the Edinburgh Evening News, the Scottish Daily Express and the Scottish Sun claiming that bombs would detonate at Edinburgh's Forth Road Bridge and Glasgow's Erskine Bridge.