The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a two-week adjournment of the extradition to Belgium of an Irish aviation broker who has been charged in connection with an alleged plot to smuggle heroin worth €10 million through Weston airport from the continent.
John Kinsella (36), a father of three, of Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, who is a former national super-heavyweight boxing champion, has been charged in Ireland with conspiracy to import controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.
Last Tuesday, Shane Murphy SC, for Mr Kinsella, told the High Court that his client was consenting to his extradition to Belgium.
However, the matter was adjourned to allow the DPP to consider certain domestic issues before any order for Mr Kinsella's extradition be made.
Yesterday, Patrick McGrath BL, for the DPP, asked the court for a further adjournment.
He said this was being sought because the DPP had been unable to speak with the Belgian authorities about the matter.
Objecting to the adjournment, Mr Murphy said the Belgian authorities had been 100 per cent consistent since issuing a warrant for Mr Kinsella's arrest in September of last year.
Mr Justice Michael Peart said he would adjourn the case for two weeks, but stressed the situation must be clarified by then. He remanded Mr Kinsella in custody.
Last September, Belgian police issued a European arrest warrant for Mr Kinsella in connection with the seizure of 50kg of heroin, worth an estimated €10 million, at an airfield in Belgium.
The drugs were seized on a plane bound for Ireland on September 26th, 2006.