UK seeks to extradite murderer from Ireland

The High Court has remanded in custody a convicted murderer and rapist whose extradition is being sought by the UK authorities.

Today at the High Court Mark Trayton Smith (aged 47), a native of Cheltenham in England was remanded in continuing custody by Mr Justice Michael Peart.

Trayton was recently released from an Irish prison after serving a lenght sentence for the rape of a woman in Galway city 9 years ago.

The Judge remanded Trayton Smith in custody after being told that the matter could be adjourned to a date early next month to allow lawyers study the extradition request.

Trayton Smith's extradition is being sought by the British Authorities who claim that he is breach of conditions of his licence following his early release from a British prison during the mid nineties, after serving approximately 13 years of a life sentence he received for murder.

Trayton Smith, a former bank worker, was convicted at Swansea Crown Court in 1983 of murdering Albert Richards at Burry Port, Dyfed in Wales, on August 31, 1982.

Mr Richards, who worked with Trayton Smith at a bank in the town, was the victim of an unprovoked knife attack and after being convicted Trayton Smith was given a mandatory life sentence.

However he was released from prison in 1995 on licence under certain conditions, and is thought to have moved to Ireland some time after that.

Trayton Smith was arrested by the Gardai late last week after he was released after serving the prison term he received for the rape of a young woman at Nimmo's Pier in Galway City on June 5th 1999.

In July 2000 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard that his victim, a 21 year old English tourist was attacked at around 5am as she watched the sun rise alone.

During what was a 20 minute ordeal the woman said the Trayton Smith grabbed her neck tightly.

She said she was unable to scream loudly because of a throat infection, blacked out and feared that she was going to die.

Trayton Smith was convicted by an 11-1 jury majority. Mr Justice Brian McCracken subsequently imposed a 12 year prison sentence on Trayton Smith.