The UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has contradicted claims by the family of the late Georgina Eager that it asked the Irish authorities to extradite Christopher Newman to face trial in Ireland, and that this request was refused.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell speculated yesterday that the authorities decided to have the case heard in Britain for legal reasons relating to admissibility of evidence.
"As far as the Department of Justice is concerned we have done everything we can to co-operate with the process. That was their decision. It was made for good legal grounds. It was nothing to do with lack of interest on behalf of the legal authorities," he said.
"If there had been extradition - and I won't say whether that would have been appropriate or not - there could have been immense legal delays.
"We should concentrate on the positive outcome. It cannot be a happy situation for any family to go through this type of experience. I am quite confident that the two prosecution services would act on good grounds."
A spokesman for the CPS told The Irish Times yesterday that Newman was arrested and charged by the London Metropolitan Police with the murder of Georgina Eager in May 2003. Only later was the Irish DPP's office asked to clarify its intentions with regard to his extradition.
Newman was sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder on Tuesday, following a trial in the Inner London Crown Court. Ms Eager's parents were critical of the fact that the trial took place in London, and stated that they had been told the CPS had requested of the Irish DPP's office that it seek the extradition of Newman to face the charge in Ireland.
In a statement clarifying what had happened, the CPS said that the charge of murder was brought under the law permitting a British citizen to be charged with a murder committed anywhere in the world.
"Therefore at the time that discussions took place between the CPS and the DPP's office in Dublin, Mr Newman had already been charged in England and the CPS lawyer who had conduct of the case had decided that there was sufficient evidence to proceed, and that the public interest required a prosecution, in accordance with the Code For Crown Prosecutors," the CPS continued.
"Once the Irish authorities had made their decision as to extradition we proceeded with the case, because the public interest in a case of this nature is in favour of prosecuting."
The DPP, James Hamilton, decided not to seek the extradition of Newman after he was charged in England, and the CPS considered it could proceed with the prosecution.
According to legal sources, seeking his extradition could have delayed the case for years, if he fought the extradition through the English courts.