Judge warns he might refuse to return Derry man to trail charged with fighting against ISIS

 
A judge has given a warning that he might refuse to return for trial a Derry man charged in connection with travelling to Syria to fight against ISIS if there are any further delays.
Eamonn Bradley (27) of Benview Estate in Coshquin was to face a preliminary enquiry at Derry Magistrate’s Court on charges of attending weapons and explosive training in Syria on dates between April 4 and October 28 2014 and possessing explosives on similar dates.
However, a prosecution solicitor told the court that the case required the consent of the Advocate General in London and the papers had been sent but had not yet returned.
Defence solicitor Mr. Paddy MacDermott said this was ‘not acceptable.’ as his client had been on bail for a lengthy period.
District Judge Barney McElholm said that the date had been fixed for the PE in December and added: “I am sure the Advocate General or whoever is extremely busy but they could have found time to scrawl their signature on the papers.”
Calling on the prosecution authorities to ‘get on with it’ Judge McElholm issued what is known as a ‘McAleenan warning’ which allows him to refuse to return the defendant for trial.
He said he was not stating that he was going to refuse but was putting the prosecution on notice that there should be no further delays.
A PE date was set for March 3.