ETA suspect 'could face death'

A court in Belfast has heard claims that sending a convicted Basque terrorist back to a Spanish prison would leave him facing death.

Lawyers for Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, 54, are fighting attempts to have him extradited to Spain over claims that he glorified terrorism.

He has already served a jail sentence for his role in up to 25 murders.

But he claims he was beaten repeatedly and kept in solitary confinement for 17 years during his incarceration.

According to the defendant's lawyer, a medical expert had identified a disproportionate risk to the wanted man's health and life if he is extradited.

The Basque separatist, currently on bail, is wanted over the contents of a letter read out at a rally in San Sebastian in August 2008.

The message was allegedly given in his name, with the charge against him heavily dependent on the Basque phrase "aurrrea bolie", which translates literally as "kick the ball forward".

His barrister told the court a terrorist victims' group had seized on the newspaper report of the rally and petitioned for an extradition.

"Titanic with toothpicks"

"Would it now be inhumane to put him back in custody on the basis of what someone says someone read out at a rally though no-one has the document? We say it's grossly disproportionate and inhumane to do that," the lawyer said.

He added that, based on medical evidence, de Juana Chaos was facing a very serious deterioration of his health and likely, if not certain, death through hunger strike.

Criticising the prosecution case he added: "The talk about trying to build the Titanic with toothpicks is appropriate.

"This is an absurdity, but the fact it's an absurdity doesn't make it harmless. It makes it dangerous given the consequences."

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