A former RUC man who is challenging an order for his extradition to Britain has held a Republic of Ireland passport for some 20 years and has been living openly in this State since 1993, the High Court was told yesterday. The man faces charges of possession of some £650,000 of heroin with intent to supply.
Mr Diarmaid McGuinness SC said the uncontroverted evidence was that his client, Mr Matthew (Matt) Henry Armstrong (60), from Tempo, Co Fermanagh, was correct in his account of what happened in London in 1992 when he said he was assisting two law enforcement agencies and with the knowledge of a third - the RUC.
Mr Armstrong is contesting a District Court order of September 24th, 1998, for his extradition to Britain. He was arrested in Bray, Co Wicklow on May 12th, 1995 under a warrant issued on January 19th that year alleging he was in possession of the heroin in London on June 29th, 1992.
The case resumes on Tuesday.