State Archives: Extraditing Australia’s most wanted man

Robert Trimbole was the most wanted man in Australia when he was arrested in Ireland on October 25, 1984. He was wanted in connection with at least three murders and organising drug smuggling.

A corrupt policeman warned him of his impending arrest in 1981, so he fled Australia.

Gardaí became aware of Trimbole’s presence in this country, and Australian police sent over a detective to verify his identity. But there was no extradition treaty between Ireland and Australia. Negotiations had begun in 1972, and the Irish side had initialled a draft extradition agreement in 1977, but the Australians never finalised it.