'Lying Eyes' conspiracy suspect has extradition hearing adjourned

A man jailed for extortion after the unravelling of a conspiracy by Clare woman Sharon “Lying Eyes” Collins to have her wealthy partner and his two sons killed, has had his extradition hearing adjourned for over a month.

Egyptian-born Essam Eid (aged 55) is wanted by authorities in the US to face charges relating to conspiracy with his ex-partner to extort money from a woman and intent to extort money with a threat to kill.

The incidents are alleged to have happened on or around September 22, 2006 in Los Angeles.

In November 2008, Eid was sentenced to six years imprisonment for demanding €100,000 from the son of wealthy businessman PJ Howard in exchange for not carrying out a contract to kill him, his brother and their father on September 26, 2006.

He was also convicted of handling certain items stolen from the Howard family business in Westgate Business Park, Ennis, after a break-in.

His co-accused, Clare woman Sharon Collins, who created the internet alias “Lying Eyes”, was jailed for six years for soliciting a hitman to kill her partner PJ Howard and his two sons and for conspiring to kill the three men.

Sitting at the Courts of Criminal Justice this morning, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said the extradition court would accede to a request from the State to adjourn proceedings until the beginning of next term.

Lawyers for Eid, who was dressed in a black suit with a dark-patterned mulberry tie, told the court that their client was anxious to list the matter for mention again within the next two weeks.

However Mr Justice Sheehan, having agreed that there was “no reality” of the case proceeding any further within the next two weeks, remanded Eid in custody to reappear before the court on May 4.