Tartan Terrorist appeals against Ireland extradition

Adam Busby is to appeal against his extradition. Picture: Collins Courts

Adam Busby, 64, had been told by a judge in Dublin that he would have to return to Scotland to face the terror charges.

The founder of the Scottish National Liberation Army has fought the extradition attempts since being arrested over seven offences in 2010.

He has now appealed to Ireland’s Supreme Court against the extradition order granted in July last year.

It is thought it could take up to six months for his case to be heard.

It is claimed Mr Busby, who is in custody in Dublin, made hoax calls to media groups in Edinburgh and Glasgow and to the Samaritans.

He allegedly threatened ‘to contaminate the drinking water supplies of major English towns and cities with a noxious substance’.

It is further alleged he told a newspaper that packages containing caustic, poisonous or other noxious substances had been sent to various political leaders including Mr Brown, who was Prime Minister at the time.

The warrant further alleges Mr Busby contacted news groups in 2010 to claim that bombs had been placed at various bridges, including the Forth Road Bridge and Erskine Bridge.

Mr Busby is also accused of phoning the Glasgow branch of the Samaritans and claiming a bomb was placed at the city’s Hilton Hotel.

He has argued that, as he had been resident in Ireland for more than 30 years, he should be tried there and removal to Scotland would interfere with his family life.

He also stated that he would face a much higher penalty in the UK than if he were prosecuted in Ireland.

At the High Court in Dublin last year Mr Justice Edwards said the fact he was going to be exposed to a higher penalty in Scotland would not constitute an abuse of process.

He said it was legitimate to argue that because the results of his alleged actions were felt in Scotland, the Scots could legitimately claim jurisdiction.

He said that one offence was characterised as threats and had a maximum sentence of life in prison.

He said another offence had been labelled hoaxes involving noxious substances and that the remaining four offences included bomb hoaxes.

He noted that each of the hoaxes carried a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment.

Ordering the surrender of Mr Busby under the European Arrest Warrant, he said: ‘What was done, if done as alleged, was intended to terrorise.’

Mr Justice Edwards made order for the surrender of Busby under the European Arrest Warrant Act and remanded him in custody to Cloverhill Prison in Dublin.

Busby, originally from Paisley, Renfrewshire, moved to Ireland in 1980.

He is also wanted in the US for making alleged bomb threats to the University of Pittsburgh last year.

US prosecutors have said they want him extradited there after any Scottish case is concluded.

Speaking last year David J Hickton, a US attorney, said: “We remain interested in extraditing Adam Busby to hold him responsible for the indicted crimes here and have taken active steps to secure his presence.

“We stand in line behind Scotland, which has a prior interest and rights to proceed with Mr Busby for crimes committed there.”

A spokesman for Ireland’s Supreme Court confirmed an appeal had been lodged by Busby and said no hearing date had yet been set.