British sex-offender faces extradition from Ireland

One of the UK’s most wanted child sex offenders could be extradited back to Britain within weeks, it emerged today.

The Irish High Court will hear the case against John Richard Murrell on November 21.

The 39-year-old was arrested in Co Kildare on September 28 after seven years on the run.

He had previously served a prison sentence for indecently assaulting a child but failed to register with the authorities after his release in 2000.

Murrell is wanted by the West Mercia Constabulary, near Worcester in the west midlands of England.

Dressed casually in a grey tracksuit with a hooded top, Murrell was remanded back into custody at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin.

Murrell was arrested after co-operation between Gardaí and the British police.

The breakthrough in the case came after he appeared on the website of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

In 1999 Murrell was convicted on three counts of indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl. He served half of his two-year prison sentence and was told he could only have contact with children under supervision.

He was supposed to register with police and notify them of all his movements but he disappeared.

Two years ago he was featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme and adverts placed in British newspapers. However there were no developments until now.

He is currently being held under a European Arrest Warrant.