A Meath man has won a High Court battle against extradition to Hungary where he was convicted in his absence of negligent driving causing the death of two young children.
The application by the Hungarian authorities for the extradition of Ciaran Tobin, of Cairn Manor, Ratoath, Co Meath, to Hungary was refused by Mr Justice Michael Peart.
The judge said his refusal was based on his finding that Mr Tobin's departure from Hungary could not be defined as 'fleeing', as had been contended on the extradition warrant. Mr Tobin (41), was convicted in his absence by a Hungarian court in 2002 of negligent driving causing the deaths of the two children after his car mounted a footpath in a built up area of Budapest on the afternoon of April 9th 2000.
Five year-old Marton Zoltai and his sister, two year-old Petra Zoltai, who was sitting in a pram on the footpath, were killed in the collision.
A three year sentence was imposed, which was later adjusted on appeal to 18 months.