THE STATE has yet to file a response with the Supreme Court to legal submissions by lawyers for English journalist Ian Bailey appealing against his extradition to France, despite the court making a direction that responding papers should be lodged by the end of July.
On May 5th last, then chief justice Mr Justice John Murray granted lawyers for Mr Bailey (54) six weeks to file legal submissions appealing his extradition to France in connection with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in west Cork in 1996.
Mr Justice Murray then directed the State to file a response within four weeks of the date fixed for the receipt of Mr Bailey’s submissions but The Irish Times has learned that the State has still to file a legal response. The case is listed for next Thursday in the Supreme Court before new Chief Justice Mrs Justice Susan Denham, when it is expected the State will be asked to explain its failure to reply to the submissions made by Mr Bailey’s legal team.
Mr Bailey’s appeal follows a decision last February by Mr Justice Michael Peart in the High Court to allow the extradition of Mr Bailey to France on foot of a European arrest warrant issued for his arrest.
However, in April, he granted Mr Bailey leave to appeal his ruling to the Supreme Court, ruling that an issue arose in his High Court judgment, which was of such exceptional public importance, that it should be determined by the Supreme Court.
