David Drumm extradition hearing rescheduled for Thursday

The rescheduled extradition hearing at which former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive, David Drumm, is now expected to agree to return to the State from the US is set to take place in Boston late on Thursday.

He had been due in court on Monday, but bad weather forced the hearing’s postponement. On Tuesday, it was rescheduled to begin at 8pm Irish time on Thursday.

The State is seeking his extradition to face 33 charges arising from transactions carried out during his time at Anglo, which he led in the period before its collapse in 2009.

Mr Drumm has been fighting the extradition since October, during which time he was held in jail just outside Boston. However, it emerged days ago that he is likely to drop his opposition and agree to return to the Republic when he appears in court this week.

The reasons for his change of heart are likely to be outlined at the hearing in Boston on Thursday night. Last week it was confirmed that his Irish solicitor, Michael J Staines, had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions saying that his client would not return home if the State agreed not to oppose bail.

If he returns to the Republic, Mr Drumm will be taken straight to a Garda Station and charged before being brought before the District Court, which will decide on bail.

His lawyers are likely to challenge any refusal of bail to the High Court.