A timeline of the case which has resulted in the latest ruling from the humans rights court in Strasbourg
1976:Five Protestants killed in IRA bomb attack on Bayardo bar in Shankill Road in Belfast. Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane subsequently sentenced to five life sentences for their murder.
September 1983:McFarlane, commander of Provisional IRA H-block inmates, is among 38 escapees in a Maze prison breakout. Succeeded hunger striker Bobby Sands as IRA commander.
November 1983:Supermarket executive Don Tidey kidnapped outside his south Dublin home.
December 1983:Trainee garda and Army private shot dead during rescue operation near Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.
January 1986:McFarlane and two other Maze escapees Gerry Kelly and Anthony Kelly arrested in flat in Amsterdam suburb as arms and explosives shipment found.
October 1986:Dutch court approves extradition to the North of McFarlane and Gerry Kelly. Before decision made Iranian ambassador in The Hague offers to provide them sanctuary in Iran if extradition denied.
1997:McFarlane released on parole for 1970s murder convictions.
January 5th, 1998:Arrested in Dundalk on a bus while returning to Belfast from Dublin
January 7th, 1998:Charged with kidnapping of Mr Tidey and with possession of firearms.
January 13th, 1998:Freed on £100,000 bail.
July 11th, 2003:Asks High Court to halt trial because of delay in prosecution and loss of number of items on which gardaí alleged his fingerprints were found.
July 18th, 2003:High Court grants leave to halt trial. State appeals to Supreme Court.
March 7th, 2006:Supreme Court rules that trial can go ahead.
May 15th, 2006:High Court grants him leave for further legal challenge.
December 2006:Loses High Court case and appeals to Supreme Court
January 11th, 2007:Appeals to Supreme Court
March 2008:Supreme Court dismisses appeal
June 2008:Trial proceeds in Dublin Special Criminal Court for the kidnapping of Don Tidey in 1983 and related firearms offences.
June 26th, 2008:Brendan McFarlane is cleared in Special Criminal Court of false imprisonment of Mr Tidey and of firearms possession.
March 3rd, 2010:European Court of Human Rights hears case that his rights were breached in delay of prosecution.
September 10th, 2010:Awarded €15,000 against the State by the court on grounds that 10-year delay in proceedings was excessive.
