Extradition decision due for 'IRA splinter group'

A Slovakian court is to decide by the end of the week if three alleged members of an IRA splinter group will be extradited.

The three Irishmen were arrested last month in Piestany, a spa in western Slovakia, where they allegedly had been trying to buy weapons from British secret service agents who pretended to be salesmen from Iraq.

The court's ruling will be forwarded to Slovak Justice Minister Jan Carnogursky, who will make a final decision on the case.

The court is based in Trnava, a city in western Slovakia.

The extradition request from Britain includes information about five crimes the Irish men are said to have committed.

No other details were released. British and Slovak media identified the trio as suspected members of the Real IRA.

The three have recently changed their lawyers and hired a law firm which has been active in defending alleged members of the local mafia.