Father Patrick Ryan
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Father Patrick Ryan, an Irish Catholic priest, was alleged to have been involved with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in the 1980s.[1]
Acting on a tip-off, Belgian authorities arrested Ryan on June 30, 1988. Although Britain immediately sought Ryan's extradition from Belgium, legal argumentation took place over a 5-month period before he was eventually transferred to Ireland in November 1988, but was not held in custody of the Garda Síochána.
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[edit] Extradition demand
On November 25, 1988 Britain formally demanded the extradition of Father Patrick Ryan from Ireland.
Four days later, Conservative MP Michael Mates called at PMQs for the immediate extradition of this "terrorist". Mrs Thatcher responded:
- "The failure to secure Ryan's arrest is a matter of very grave concern to the Government. It is no use governments [of Belgium and Ireland] adopting great declarations and commitments about fighting terrorism if they then lack the resolve to put them into practice."
The next day in parliament Tony Benn MP raised with the Speaker the following point of order:
- "It is clearly a misuse of privilege to use the protection of the House of Commons to make such an allegation. Father Ryan is wanted on a serious charge. It could hardly be more serious. It is in accordance with the practice of British courts that anyone charged is presumed innocent until convicted. Therefore, when a senior Member of the House says, and it is confirmed by the Prime Minister, that that person is a terrorist, it is impossible from that moment on for that man to have a fair trial. The BBC broadcast those remarks and every newspaper has highlighted them. Yesterday, the House of Commons became a lynch mob, headed by the Prime Minister, whose remarks are bound to prejudice any jury or judge if Father Ryan is brought to this country."[2]
Michael Mates MP was the next to speak:
- "Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker, I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr Benn) for the courtesy of telling me that he was going to raise this matter. I used the phrase yesterday solely in the context of my outrage at the fact that that person was not being brought here to face trial. It was not intended to be an intimation of guilt. Strictly, I should have said, 'Ryan is the man the security forces most want in connection with serious offences.' I am happy to make that plain."
[edit] Extradition denial
However, the damage was done. The Irish prime minister announced in the Dáil Éireann on December 13, 1988 that the serious charges levelled against Ryan should be investigated by a court in Ireland, and because of prejudicial remarks made in the House of Commons he could not expect to receive a fair trial in Britain.[3]
In October 1989, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland announced that he had decided not to initiate proceedings against Father Patrick Ryan.[4]
