One of the UK's most wanted child sex offenders is fighting attempts to extradite him back to Britain, the High Court heard today.
John Richard Murrell (39) who was arrested in Co Kildare on Friday, has been on the run since failing to register with police on his release from prison in September 2000.
Lawyers for Mr Murrell told the High Court in Dublin that their client is opposing the extradition.
Seeking the adjournment, Kieran Kelly BL said he had not had enough time to prepare his case to oppose the application since Mr Murrell's arrest.
Justice Michael Peart granted a two-week adjournment and remanded the defendant in custody to Cloverhill Prison until October 17th.
Mr Murrell was in court today casually dressed in a grey T-shirt and blue jeans.
Prosecutors were applying to the High Court to extradite Mr Murrell to Britain under the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003.
West Mercia Constabulary police were tipped off about his whereabouts after he featured on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre's (Ceop) Most Wanted website.
His case has featured in numerous public appeals, including BBC TV's Crimewatchprogramme.
He disappeared with his family after being released from a jail sentence he received for indecently assaulting a child.
Mr Murrell's last known address was Droitwich, in Worcestershire, but he led an itinerant lifestyle.
During the search, police received reports of possible sightings in Belfast, Aberystwyth, Blackpool and Canada.
Police said Mr Murrell, who was on the run with his wife Catherine and five children, might have used false identities and changed his appearance to evade police. .