THE HIGH Court has remanded in custody a 57-year-old convicted sex offender wanted in Scotland for allegedly failing to notify the authorities there of his whereabouts.
Yesterday the High Court heard that the Scottish authorities are seeking the extradition of Fraser Benjamin McLaughlin, who was arrested at a Dublin hostel.
In a European arrest warrant (EAW) seeking his surrender it is claimed that he broke the conditions of the sexual offenders register by failing to notify the police of his location and that he also failed to answer bail over charges linked to child abuse images.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton, who heard details of Mr McLaughlin’s arrest, remanded him in custody to Cloverhill prison until September 15th, when the case returns before the High Court.
The judge also informed Mr McLaughlin of his legal rights including that he was entitled to legal representation.
It is now up to Mr McLaughlin to either challenge the extradition request in the courts or consent to his surrender back to Scotland.
Sgt Jim Kirwin of the Garda extradition unit in reply to State counsel Elaine Farrell said that Mr McLaughlin was arrested, on foot of an EAW, which had earlier been endorsed by the High Court, at a hostel on Lower Gardiner Street on Tuesday afternoon.
Sgt Kirwin told the court that Mr McLaughlin, with an address at Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, in Scotland acknowledged that he was the person identified in the warrant.
Mr McLaughlin did not speak during yesterday’s brief court appearance. No application for bail was made on his behalf.