Irish High Court rules extradition of Polish man: report

The decision was taken despite the court finding “systemic and generalised deficiencies in the independence of the judiciary in Poland,” which, however, did not affect the suspect’s right to a fair trial in his country of origin, Ireland's The Journal has reported.

Artur C. (last name withheld under Poland’s privacy laws), aged 31, was arrested in Ireland on a European arrest warrant on drug trafficking charges in May last year. He did not agree to being handed over to Polish authorities, saying that, due to court reforms in Poland, he might not get a fair trial.

In July, the Court of Justice of the European Union said that the Pole would not have to be extradited if Ireland found that he runs a “real risk” of not receiving a fair trial in his native country.

Artur C. is to be extradited to Polish authorities within 25 days of the ruling, according to The Journal. But his lawyers have the right to appeal. The case is due to be brought before the High Court again next Monday, The Journal said.

Since coming to power in late 2015, Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice party has introduced sweeping judicial changes to reform what it claims is an inefficient and sometimes corrupt judicial system.

The European Commission last December took the unprecedented step of triggering Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Poland, stepping up pressure on Warsaw over controversial changes to the judicial system by the country’s ruling conservatives.

(aba/gs)

Source: The Journal, PAP