Judge James P. McDonnell was told by counsel for the Attorney General, Mr Robert Barron, yesterday afternoon that a lunchtime application had been made to the High Court and a stay had been put on contempt proceedings by the District Court judge against the Attorney General. The High Court will hear the matter on Monday, December 14th.
Reading from the citation, Judge McDonnell said the Attorney General had yesterday caused a letter to be published to him in Dublin District Court which touched on extradition proceedings, dated December 2nd, 1998, written from the Attorney General's office and at his behest to the President of the District Court.
Judge McDonnell has been hearing an application for the extradition of Mr James Joseph Byrne, who is wanted by the British authorities in relation to an alleged murder in Britain in 1996.
The matter before the District Court was adjourned to December 18th for mention.
On December 14th the High Court will deal with the contempt issue.