National: Irish man convicted over killing of PSNI officer to challenge extradition to Northern Ireland

An Irish man man convicted of the manslaughter of a PSNI officer who was apprehended by gardai earlier this year is to challenge his extradition to Northern Ireland.

Christopher Shane Frane, who is originally from west Limerick, was sentenced to a minimum of six years for the manslaughter of a police officer in 2013 and was given an indefinite custodial sentence until he can show that he is no longer a danger to the public. 

The 36-year-old was apprehended by gardai in February - nearly two weeks after the PSNI said he had breached the conditions of his temporary prison release by absconding from the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

At the High Court in Dublin this Friday, his lawyer Leanora Frawley BL said indefinite custodial sentences are the Northern Irish equivalent of "imprisonment for public protection (IPP)" sentences which proved highly controversial in the UK.

Prisoners, she said, could end up serving life terms for relatively minor offences. IPPs were abolished in the UK following a 2012 ruling by the ECHR that they were unlawful but judges in Northern Ireland can still impose indefinite sentences.

Ms Frawley said Frane has served his six-year sentence but remains subject to the indeterminate portion until he is no longer considered to be dangerous. Under the law, it is up to the prisoner to rebut the presumption that he is a danger, Ms Frawley said.

The barrister asked for a senior counsel to be appointed to argue the "novel and complex point" as to whether Frane's extradition should be refused on human rights and constitutional grounds.

Harriet Burgess BL, for the Minister for Justice, said there is extensive case law in this jurisdiction on indeterminate sentences but the State is not opposing the application for a senior counsel.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott granted the application and adjourned the case until June 26 for hearing.

Frane was arrested in Dublin on February 1 this year on foot of an extradition warrant issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland where he is deemed to be unlawfully at large from prison since January 17.

Frane had pleaded guilty to a number of charges including the manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds.

Ms Reynolds (27) was the back seat passenger in a police patrol car that was struck by a stolen Toyota Landcruiser driven by Frane in February 2013 in Derry.

She was killed instantly.