German position divided on bail application for McAliskey

A DIVISION has emerged between the German embassy in London and the German prosecution service over bail for Ms Roisin McAliskey…

A DIVISION has emerged between the German embassy in London and the German prosecution service over bail for Ms Roisin McAliskey. In London, the embassy says the gravity of the alleged offence justifies continued detention. The federal prosecutor's office in Karlsruhe denies the embassy is authorised to oppose ball.

A letter written by an embassy official in which the German authorities outlined their opposition to bail for Ms McAliskey has been condemned by her solicitor, Ms Gareth Peirce.

The head of the embassy's legal department, Dr Trautwein, wrote to the Roisin McAliskey Justice Group late last year saying, "in view of the seriousness of the charges" against her, "we must proceed with our request for detention pending extradition".

McAliskey's bail, the letter continued, was for the British judicial authorities to decide.

READ MORE

Mr Peter Maure, the lawyer at the Karlsruhe office responsible for the case, yesterday expressed astonishment at the letter.

"I can only say that the embassy was not authorised by this office to say anything of that nature. The Federal Justice Ministry is so remote from the case that I cannot imagine that they authorised it either. They have never attempted to influence our handling of the case and it is highly unlikely that they authorised the embassy to make such a statement without consulting us," he said.

On Wednesday he said the German Federal Prosecutor's Office had never objected to bail.

Ms McAliskey, who is seven months pregnant, faces charges in connection with the IRA bombing of a British army base in Germany last June.

Ms Peirce has repeatedly claimed that German embassy officials had said Ms McAliskey, was to be released on humanitarian grounds. But it appeared to her that "no proper thought or attention" had been given to the position of the German authorities or to communication between the German embassy in London and the federal prosecutor's office.

The confusion between the two offices, Ms Peirce said, meant German opposition to Ms McAliskey's bail application "can't be considered a proper objection". Despite the apparent contradictions of the German authorities, Ms Peirce said it would not affect Ms McAliskey's wish to apply for bail again.

Responding to the criticism by Mr Maure, Dr Trautwein said: "If you have spoken to their office and this is what they have said, then you must have the latest information."