Britain looking to extradite man for London murder

An Englishman wanted in connection with the murder of a man whose body was found in a London flat has appeared before the High Court in Dublin.

Yesterday, Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley heard that British authorities are seeking the extradition of Thomas Anthony Kearney, aged 38, in connection with the death of David Remmer, aged 35, whose body was discovered, at an address at Talgarth Rod, London on Dec 13.

The warrant seeking Hammersmith-born Mr Kearney’s extradition states Mr Remmer’s body was discovered in Mr Kearney’s flat.

British authorities say that the dead man had been beaten and stabbed. It is also claimed that a blood-stained knife was found at the scene.

It is alleged that CCTV pictures showed both the dead man and Mr Kearney entering the flat in the days prior to Mr Remmer’s death.

It is also alleged that around the time of his death Mr Remmer had been reported to police as being a missing person.

On Dec 19, a warrant for Mr Kearney’s arrest was issued by a Magistrates Court, but he had left the jurisdiction and had travelled to Ireland. A warrant seeking his extradition was then issued.

Yesterday at the High Court, Detective Garda Sean Fallon of the Garda Extradition Unit said Mr Kearney was arrested at an address at Georges St, Dún Laoghaire on foot of a European Arrest Warrant, which had previously been endorsed by the High Court in Dublin.

The detective told the court that when Mr Kearney was asked if he knew what the charges contained in the EAW were about, he replied “It was self defence.”

Anne Marie Lawlor, counsel for the State, asked the court to remand Mr Kearney in custody pending the listing of an extradition hearing later this month. No application for bail was made.

A lawyer for Mr Kearney, dressed in a white t-shirt, dark jacket and jeans and who did not speak during the hearing, told the court his client feared for his safety in a shared cell in prison.

Ms Justice O’Malley said there was nothing she could do in relation to that but said any concerns for Mr Kearney’s safety should be made to the prison governor.

The judge, after informing Mr Kearney of his rights, then remanded him in custody and made the case returnable for Jan 15.