Algerian-born Irish citizen fights extradition request

An application brought by an Algerian-born Irish citizen for leave to seek judicial review of an attempt to extradite him to the United States, where he is wanted on international terrorism charges, has been adjourned until October.

Ali Charaf Damache, aged 48, who has been living in Ireland for a decade, is wanted in the United States to face charges relating to the conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism.

The High Court heard the US alleges it has evidence that Mr Damache conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose — who used the online name “Jihad Jane” — and others to create a terror cell in Europe capable of targeting both US and western European citizens. It is alleged Mr Damache, who went by the username “the black flag”, also participated in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a US citizen to an individual in Pakistan whom the conspirators believed to be a member of al Qaeda.

Mr Justice Edwards yesterday adjourned the case to hear a separate application for leave to seek judicial review of the extradition proceedings.

Mícheál O’Higgins, counsel for Mr Damache, told the court his client was seeking judicial review to challenge the DPP’s decision not to prosecute him in Ireland for the offences, a decision which counsel said failed to take into regard the impact extradition would have on Mr Damache’s constitutional rights.

Mr O’Higgins said it appeared the State had decided not to prosecute Mr Damache and had unlawfully delegated the prosecution to the US instead.

Mr Justice Edwards said that the judicial review application would be adjourned until Oct 14, while the extradition proceedings would resume after judgment is returned.

If convicted of the charges against him, Mr Damache faces a potential sentence of 45 years in prison.