Paedophile to be sent to England

John Richard Murrell served two years for sexual assault

A paedophile is to be extradited to England from Dublin despite an attempt to delay his return to complete a jail sentence there.

John Richard Murrell served two years for sexually assaulting a girl, aged nine, then fled to Ireland.

The Irish High Court ordered him to be sent to England even though he faces a charge in a Dublin court.

The summons, for failing to notify gardai of his whereabouts, was issued in the name of Murrell's brother, Alan.

Ordering the extradition Mr Justice Michael Peart accused the brother of cynically attempting to abuse the legal system.

"It is so cynical attempt to get around the provisions of the European Arrest Warrant Act that even if I was satisfied that there was some merit in the case, my view would be that it quite clearly was such an abusive attempt ... that it would be unconscionable for this court to uphold," the judge said.

Murrell is to be sent to England by the end of December.

He is wanted by West Mercia Police to answer charges of breaching the terms of his release and now faces trial at Worcester Crown Court.

The maximum penalty is five years in jail.

If he was convicted in Ireland for failing to notify gardai, as his brother attempted, he would face 12 months in prison.