A MAN serving life imprisonment for the murder of a couple in Co Roscommon has had his legal challenge to a refusal to transfer him to a UK prison to complete his sentence adjourned.
Mark Nash (36) was convicted in October 1998 of the murders of Carl Doyle (29) and his wife, Catherine Doyle (28), at their home in Caran, Ballintober, Castlerea, on August 16th, 1997. Mrs Doyle was the sister of Nash’s then girlfriend.
Nash was born in Ballina, Co Mayo, but spent most of his life in Leeds. Having previously brought two unsuccessful High Court challenges seeking transfer to an English prison to finish his sentence, he began a third action against the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform earlier this year.
That case had been adjourned to yesterday, when it was further adjourned to January 14th at the request of lawyers for the Minister.
Counsel for Mr Nash objected to the adjournment, saying the Minister had still not filed opposition papers in the case, even though it was promised last October that it would be done.
Counsel for the Minister said there had been a number of developments since then and more time was required to file papers.
Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill granted the adjournment.
Nash was convicted in the Central Criminal Court in 1998 of the murders of Mr and Mrs Doyle.