Man to be extradited over kidnap and assault claims

A Cork man is to be extradited to Britain where he is accused of kidnapping and assaulting a former partner, the High Court ruled today.

Kieran Thomas Draisey is wanted by police in Manchester for the alleged kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault causing actual bodily harm and threatening to kill Tracy Whitworth Wilde on dates between 1995 and 1998 in the town of Widnes.

It is alleged he punched and kicked his victim, dragged her into the bathroom, put her in the bath and forced her head under the water.

The court heard Ms Whitworth Wilde then had to pretend to be dead but, after she got out of the bath, was struck with the handle of a brush.

Draisey then allegedly put her into a car and drove around for several hours, against her will.

When they returned to their home, it is claimed Draisey went to bed, taking the keys of the house and the phone with him, leaving her unable call for help.

Mr Justice Michael Peart, sitting in the High Court, today granted an extradition order.

The court was previously told the 45-year-old, of Lower Range, Rostellan, Midleton, met Ms Whitworth Wilde in 1988 and the couple had two children.

The accused has also fathered another four children from other relationships.

Draisey had been living openly in the Midleton area, where his family resides, since his return to Ireland in 1999.

He was employed in the construction trade, but had not worked since October 2005.

Opposing the extradition application, Paul Coffey SC, defending, claimed the lapse in time since the offences took place and a warrant was issued was not justified.

He added that it had been known by the police in England that Draisey was in Ireland since April 2000, yet the arrest warrant was only issued in January of this year.

Lawyers acting for Draisey are expected to appeal against the ruling.