Roisin McAliskey, awaiting court extradition proceedings to Germany in connection with the IRA bombing of a British army base, is still "seriously ill" and doubts remain whether she will appear in court for committal next month.
At a bail hearing at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in London yesterday, Ms Arvinder Sambei, representing the German authorities, spoke of her "reservations" about the continued non-appearance of Ms McAliskey in court.
She said although a date for a committal hearing next month had been arranged with her solicitor, Ms Gareth Peirce, extradition proceedings against Ms McAliskey had been pending for over a year.
The magistrate, Mr Ronald Bartle, remanded Ms McAliskey, from Coalisland, Co Tyrone, on conditional bail to the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital, where she has been a patient since the birth of her daughter, Loinnir, in March. A committal hearing was set for September 30th.
After the bail hearing, Ms Peirce said it had been agreed to lift the objections to the extradition proceedings and committal would begin next month. However, she indicated she was unsure if Ms McAliskey would be physically able to attend the hearing.
An independent medical report on Ms McAliskey's health was submitted to the court and Ms Peirce confirmed her client was "not well enough to be here. She is seriously ill."
Meanwhile, an appeal to the House of Lords on whether Germany can request the extradition of a British citizen while it refuses to extradite its own nationals is still to be heard. Other aspects of the case, which can be dealt with by the Divisional Court at the High Court, may also be heard next month.
Ms McAliskey, from Coalisland, Co Tyrone, is accused of being involved in the IRA bombing of a British army base at Osnabruck last June.