High Court judge refuses US warrant for Snowden

A High Court judge has refused a US request to issue a provisional warrant for the arrest of former US National Security Agency analyst and whistleblower Edward Snowden should he arrive in Ireland.

Mr Snowden is wanted by the US authorities for offences, including alleged unauthorised disclosure of national security information.

Mr Justice Colm MacEochaidh said he was refusing the US request of Jul 5, made through the US Embassy in Dublin, to grant the warrant because there was insufficient detail in the US documents as to where it was claimed the offences alleged to have been committed by Mr Snowden, including unauthorised disclosure and theft of government property, took place.