Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform v Bailey

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Judge: Denham C.J.,Murray J.,Mr. Justice Hardiman,Mr. Justice Fennelly,O'Donnell J.
• Judgment Date: 01 March 2012
• Neutral Citation: [2012] IESC 16
• Court: Supreme Court
• Date: 01 March 2012

Min for Justice v Bailey

Between/

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Applicant/Respondent

and

Ian Bailey

Respondent/Appellant

[2012] IESC 16

Denham C.J.

Murray J.

Hardiman J.

Fennelly J.

O'Donnell J.

[Appeal No: 174/2011]

THE SUPREME COURT

Abstract:

Criminal law - Criminal procedure - European arrest warrant - France - Surrender - Extra-territorial prosecution - Refusal - Fundamental rights - Reciprocity - Point of law of exceptional public importance - Whether British national could be surrendered to France for offence allegedly committed in Ireland in absence of decision of prosecute

Facts: A European arrest warrant was issued by the Republic of France in respect of Ian Bailey for the murder of a French citizen in Ireland. The appellant resisted his surrender pursuant to the warrant to France. The High Court certified a point of law of exceptional public importance to the Supreme Court to consider the extra-territorial jurisdiction to prosecute an offence where the Director of Public Prosecutions had elected not to prosecute an individual. The Court considered the jurisdiction to surrender the appellant, surrender outside the territory, whether it was an abuse of process or unjust or in breach of his fundamental rights to surrender him pursuant to s. 44 of the European arrest warrant Act 2003, s. 42 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, s. 21 A of the Act of 2003, as amended by the Act of 2005 and s. 37 of the Act of 2003.

Held by the Supreme Court per Denham C.J. (Murray, Hardiman, Fennelly, O' Donnell JJ. concurring), that no decision had been made to try him for the murder. The terms of s. 21A were not met. It was a question of Irish law whether the requirements of s.21 A of the Act of 2003, as amended, were met. A Court had to refuse to surrender a requested person when it was satisfied that no decision had been made to charge and try him. On this ground the appeal would be allowed. The appeal would also be allowed on the basis of s. 44. The appeal would not be allowed in respect of the s. 42 ground.

Per Murray J.: It was not necessary to consider the effects of s. 37 in the proceedings. Per Fennelly J.: It was perfectly possible to interpret s. 44 in conformity with the Framework Decision. Per Hardiman J.: As he was not an Irish citizen, s. 44 operated to preclude his forcible delivery to France. There was an absence of reciprocity.

Reporter: E.F.

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16(12)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2009 S12

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S44

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S42(C)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S42

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (TERRORIST OFFENCES) ACT 2005 S68

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S37

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S21A

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S20(1)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S13

OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1861 S9

OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1861 (SECTION 9) ADAPTATION ORDER 1973 SI 356/1973 ART 3

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 4

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 4(7)

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 4(7)(A)

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 4(7)(B)

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON EXTRADITION 13.12.1957 ART 7

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON EXTRADITION 13.12.1957 ART 26

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 2(2)

BLEKXTOON & VAN BALLEGOOIJ (EDS) HANDBOOK ON THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT 2004 74

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (TERRORIST OFFENCES) ACT 2005 S83

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S42(A)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S42(B)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (TERRORIST OFFENCES) ACT 2005 PART VIII

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S14(7)

INTERPRETATION ACT 2005 S1

INTERPRETATION ACT 1937 S21

SLOAN v CULLIGAN 1992 1 IR 223

EXTRADITION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM) ACT 1987 S3

EXTRADITION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM) ACT 1987 S1(4)

CONSTITUTION ART 15.5

CONSTITUTION ART 40.3

INTERPRETATION ACT 2005 S27

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 1

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S10

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (TERRORIST OFFENCES) ACT 2005 S79

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S21A(1)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S21A(2)

CRIMINAL CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 221.1

CRIMINAL CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 221.3

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 80

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 175

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 122

CONSTITUTION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 64

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 81

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PUPINO, IN RE 2005 ECR I-5285 2006 QB 83 2005 3 WLR 1102 2006 AER (EC) 142

MIN FOR JUSTICE v DUNDON 2005 1 IR 261 2005 2 ILRM 149 2005/39/8021 2005 IESC 13

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MIN FOR JUSTICE v TOBIN 2008 4 IR 42

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CRIMINAL CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 113.7

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 1(1)

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 1(2)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16(1)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16(1)(D)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S11(1)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S11

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 1967 S8

DPP v JUDGE DEVINS UNREP SUPREME 8.2.2012 2012 IESC 7

MIN FOR JUSTICE v MCARDLE 2005 4 IR 260 2006 1 ILRM 263 2005/38/7955 2005 IESC 76

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 8

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S11(1)(D)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S4

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 PART III

PROSECUTION OF OFFENCES ACT 1974 S6

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 695.22

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 695.24

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 695.24(4)

CRIMINAL CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 113.2

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 695.23

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 695.24(3)

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ART 695.24(1)

FARRELL & HANRAHAN THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT IN IRELAND 2011 PARA 12.21

MIN FOR JUSTICE v AAMOND UNREP PEART 24.11.2006 2006/39/8277 2006 IEHC 382

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EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 2

CRIMINAL LAW ACT 19971997 SCHED 3

EXTRADITION ACT 1965 S8(1)

EXTRADITION ACT 1965 (PART II) (NO 23) ORDER 1989 SI 9/1989

EXTRADITION ACT 1965 S8

EXTRADITION ACT 1965 PART II

CONSTITUTION ART 40.4

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON EXTRADITION 13.12.1957 ART 7(2)

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PUPINO 2006 QB 83 2005 3 WLR 1102 2006 AER (EC) 142 2005 ECR I-5285 2005 2 CMLR 63

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 2(1)

VON COLSON & KAMANN v LAND NORDRHEIN-WESTFAHLEN 1984 ECR 1891 1986 2 CMLR 430

MARLEASING SA v LA COMERCIAL INTERNACIONAL DE ALIMENTACION SA 1990 ECR I-4135 1993 BCC 421 1992 1 CMLR 305

TREATY OF ROME ART 10

TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION ART 35

NV ALGEMENE TRANSPORT EN EXPEDITIE ONDERNEMING VAN GEND EN LOOS v NEDERLANDSE ADMINISTRATIE DER BELASTINGEN 1963 ECR 1 1963 CMLR 105

MERCK & CO INC v PRIMECROWN LTD 1996 ECR I-6285 1997 1 CMLR 83 1997 FSR 237

BECKER v FINANZAMT MUNSTER-INNENSTADT 1982 ECR 53 1982 1 CMLR 499

GRIMALDI v FONDS DES MALADIES PROFESSIONNELLES 1989 ECR 4407 1991 2 CMLR 265 1990 IRLR 400

JONES JONES ON EXTRADITION 1ED 1995 PARA 5.012

JONES JONES ON EXTRADITION & MUTUAL ASSISTANCE 2ED 2001 PARA 10.018

FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT 1967 S3(1)(C) (UK)

EXTRADITION ACT 2003 S64(4) (UK)

FARRELL & HANRAHAN THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT IN IRELAND 2011 PARA 12.14

FARRELL & HANRAHAN THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT IN IRELAND 2011 PARA 12.16

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16(8)

INTERPRETATION ACT 2005 S27(1)(C)

INTERPRETATION ACT 2005 S4

INTERPRETATION ACT 1937 S21(1)(C)

INTERPRETATION ACT 1978 S16(1)(C) (UK)

INTERPRETATION ACT 1889

WILSON v FIRST COUNTY TRUST LTD (NO 2) 2004 1 AC 816 2003 3 WLR 568 2003 4 AER 97

WEST v GWYNNE 1911 2 CH 1

BENNION STATUTORY INTERPRETATION: A CODE 4ED 2002 259

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EXTRADITION ACT 1965 S50(2)

AG v ABIMBOLA 2008 2 IR 302

INTERPRETATION ACT 1937 S22(2)

INTERPRETATION ACT 1937 S27(2)

EXTRADITION ACT 1965 S16

EXTRADITION ACT 1965 (PART II) (NO 1) ORDER 1966 SI 161/1966 ART 2(7)

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 2(4)

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 4(4)

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON EXTRADITION 13.12.1957 ART 26(3)

1 Judgment delivered on the 1st March, 2012 by Denham C.J.

2 Judgments delivered by all members of the Court

3 1. This appeal arises in unique circumstances and raises unprecedented questions of law.

4 2. A European Arrest Warrant, hereinafter referred to as "the warrant", was issued by the Republic of France and dated the 19 ^th February, 2010, in respect of Ian Bailey, the respondent/appellant, referred to as "the appellant". The warrant relates to the murder of Mme. Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a French citizen, on or about the 23 ^rd December, 1996, in Schull, County...