Irish government attempts to extradite '˜senior IRA man' over alleged child abuse

A man described as a 'senior figure in the IRA' has appeared in court in Spain as part of an extradition request by the Irish authorities in connection with alleged child abuse.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Feb 2016, 11:41 BST

Updated 25th Feb 2016, 11:44 BST

According to a report from RTE News, Gardaí began a criminal investigation after an adult came forward and claimed she had been abused as a child in the early 1990s.

RTE reported that the allegations related to a man in his 60s, who was originally from Northern Ireland and who lived in south Dublin and held a “senior position in the IRA”.

They claim that detectives from a north Dublin station travelled to Alicante last year and interviewed the man.

A file was sent to the Republic’s Director of Public Prosecutions who directed that the man face four charges in connection with the alleged abuse.

The man, originally from Northern Ireland, was arrested on Tuesday and brought to Madrid where he appeared in court yesterday.

He is now believed to be in custody pending further proceedings in connection with his extradition.