Sex offender extradited from Dublin back to Belfast 

PSNI statement said: 'This demonstrates our continued and effective working with An Garda Síochána to track down wanted persons and bring offenders to justice.'

A convicted sex offender who breached release conditions by travelling across the border from Northern Ireland has been extradited from Dublin back to Belfast.

The 54-year-old old man was granted licence from prison where he was serving a sentence for a “serious sexual offence”.

But he did not comply with the conditions of his release, namely that he stay within Northern Ireland, and travelled across the border.

The PSNI said the man’s arrest and extradition demonstrated the continued “effective" working relationship it had with An Garda Síochána.

A PSNI statement issued on Wednesday said: “Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s International Policing Unit extradited a 54-year-old man today, Wednesday 27 December, from the Republic of Ireland.” 

It said the man had been on license from prison in Northern Ireland for a serious sexual offence, which occurred in Belfast in February 2018, before his license was revoked.

"He was arrested in the Republic of Ireland on 19 October 2022, and today completed the extradition proceedings with his successful return to Northern Ireland.” 

The statement said: “This demonstrates our continued and effective working with An Garda Síochána to track down wanted persons and bring offenders to justice.

“It is important that offenders released from prison on licence comply with the terms of their licence.

“Should offenders breach the terms of the licence and leave the jurisdiction, the Police Service of Northern Ireland will take all possible actions to have them arrested and returned to prison in Northern Ireland.”

A Garda statement issued on Thursday said: "An Garda Síochána work closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland with a shared objective of keeping communities on both sides of the border safe. 

"An extradition to Northern Ireland occurred yesterday, Wednesday 27th December 2023. The extradition was the completion of the final stage of an extradition request received for a wanted person from Northern Ireland.

"Any further queries on this matter should be directed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland."