An Irish woman sought in the UK on suspicion of helping a man who pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-partner, whose body he left in a bathtub for weeks, should not be extradited as she is the sole carer for a disabled person, the High Court heard on Thursday.
Elaine Sadlier (55) appeared at the extradition court on Thursday objecting to her surrender to UK authorities in Birmingham who issued a warrant for her arrest under the terms of the post-Brexit 'Trade and Co-operation Agreement'.
Birmingham Magistrates Court issued the warrant on June 14, 2021, accusing Ms Sadlier of assisting Michael Foran, who pleaded guilty to the murder of Katie 'June' Jones at a flat in West Bromwich in 2018.
On New Year's Eve 2018, Ms Jones' body was discovered by police who forcibly entered her flat on Wyndmill Crescent, Charlemont, West Bromwich. Ms Jones' body was found in a bathtub beneath a layer of bedding. She had been repeatedly stabbed and there were signs of strangulation.
A knife was found next to her body and there were also signs of a struggle in the blood-spattered bathroom.
Guilty plea
In October 2019, Ms Jones’ former partner Foran pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years to be served.
Another male, Keith O'Dwyer, also pleaded guilty to assisting Foran after the murder and was sentenced to 16 months in jail.
On Thursday, Alex Caffrey BL, for the Minister for Justice, said that there was no issue in finding a corresponding offence in Irish law for Ms Sadlier, who is accused of helping a male accused of murder, leaving the scene and arranging for him to stay in a hostel after the murder.
Brian Storan BL for Ms Sadlier, told Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo that his client objected to her surrender as she was the sole carer for a disabled person, who was "fully dependent" on her. He said Ms Sadlier's surrender would be against Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights and Section 37 of the Extradition Act 2003.
Mr Storan said that it had not been possible within the limited timeframe to provide a "viable alternative" in caring for the person.
Mr Justice Naidoo said that the case was a "very sad" one, held in "very unfortunate circumstances", noting there had been a recent bereavement in the Sadlier family.
Mr Storan said that should the court order Ms Sadlier's surrender, he would apply for a postponement of her extradition.
Ms Sadlier, of Shannonvale, Old Cratloe Road, Co Limerick, is accused of assisting an offender contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 under UK law.
Mr Caffrey previously told the court that the maximum punishment in the UK for assisting an offender is 10 years' imprisonment.
Mr Caffrey has said the accusing warrant stated that CCTV showed Foran, O'Dwyer, an unknown male and Ms Sadlier carrying baggage to an Irish-registered Range Rover which was then driven to Liverpool.
Hostel owner
A Liverpool hostel owner told police that he received a phone call from an Irish number from a woman with an Irish accent that investigators attribute to the respondent, Ms Sadlier, who inquired about a room.
Foran paid cash for his two-night stay and the Range Rover was then driven to a Holyhead ferry and tracked to Ireland.
Before he pleaded guilty, Foran's murder trial heard that Ms Jones was last seen in his company before she was reported missing and that her death most likely occurred on December 10, 2018, three weeks before the discovery of her body.
Both O'Dwyer and Foran were arrested in January 2019 in West Bromwich and Liverpool city centre respectively.
Mr Caffrey has said that Ms Sadlier's legal team have been in contact with West Midlands Police, who had requested that Ms Sadlier travel for a voluntary interview under the condition that she would not be arrested but she had not returned.
Mr Justice Naidoo adjourned the case to November 9 when he will rule on the matter of Ms Sadlier's possible surrender.
