Mr John Gilligan, who is challenging his extradition to Ireland to face charges including the Veronica Guerin murder, has insisted he is innocent of all charges against him in Ireland and Britain.
At a hearing in Woolwich Crown Court yesterday, Mr Gilligan, who has been two years in custody awaiting trial in Britain on money-laundering and drugs charges, instructed his counsel, Mr Tomas O Maoileoin, to read a letter in which he said he would not receive a fair trial in Ireland.
Mr Gilligan appealed in response to a Crown application to extend custody time limits pending his challenge against his extradition in the Lords. Ms Jane Bewsey, for the Crown, said events in the Lords involving Gen Augusto Pinochet had "thrown the timetable".
Until Mr Gilligan's extradition proceedings are resolved, the British drugs charges are suspended. Mr Gilligan said his continued detention in Britain was at "enormous cost to the taxpayer". To terminate the Irish charges, he was prepared to plead guilty to the British charges.
Judge James Rucker was invited by Mr O Maoileoin to read a critical Amnesty International report on the treatment of prisoners in Britain's Special Secure Units (SSUs). Mr Gilligan is being held in one.
Granting the Crown's application, Judge Rucker said he "sympathised" with Mr Gilligan, but further remanded him until April 26th.