The High Court has refused to issue a provisional arrest warrant to the United States for the extradition of whistleblower Edward Snowden. The decision was made by Mr. Justice Colm MacEochaidh over the weekend but has only become public this evening.
The American authorities made contact with the Irish authorities on the 4th and 5th of July requesting a provisional arrest warrant for Mr. Snowden.
The US request specifies that the whistleblower is charged with unauthorised disclosure of National Defence information and classified Communication Intelligence as well as the theft of Government Property.
The former intelligence contractor is described in the request as a US citizen and fugitive who was identified as the principal source of Top Secret information published on the internet and by multiple newspapers including the Washington Post and The Guardian last month.
However having considered the relevant extradition legislation Mr. Justice Colm MacEochaidh has said he is compelled to refuse the US authorities' application because of a failure to indicate the place where any of the offences happened.
