Decision on extradition this week

A Slovakian court will decide this week whether to extradite to Britain three Irish men arrested on suspicion of membership of…

A Slovakian court will decide this week whether to extradite to Britain three Irish men arrested on suspicion of membership of the Real IRA, the Tasr news agency reported yesterday.

Mr Declan Rafferty, Mr Michael McDonald and Mr Fintan O'Farrell were arrested on July 5th at the western Slovakian seaside resort of Piestany on an international arrest warrant.

The news agency said the decision on extradition would not be made public, but Justice Minister Mr Jan Carnogursky would make a statement.

Barrister for the three, Mr Jan Gereg, told the Slovak newspaper Novy Cas yesterday that his clients "have no links at all with the `Real IRA"'.