Basque separatist appeals extradition ruling
A Basque separatist convicted of 25 murders is to appeal a ruling that he should be extradited from Northern Ireland to Spain.
Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, 54, is wanted to face a charge of glorifying terrorism.
His extradition was ordered three weeks ago, when a judge rejected his claims he would not receive a fair trial.
His lawyers argued that any further imprisonment could leave him facing death due to his fragile mental health.
De Juana Chaos, 54, was released from prison in August 2008 after serving more than 21 years in jail for his part in an ETA campaign of murders.
He is wanted in Spain over the contents of a letter read out at a rally in San Sebastian the day after his release from jail.
The message was allegedly given in his name, with the charge against him heavily dependent on the Basque phrase “aurrera bolie”, which translates literally as “kick the ball forward”.
He faces the possibility of further imprisonment if convicted of the public justification of terrorist actions which caused humiliation and intensified the grief of victims and their relatives.
De Juana Chaos has been living with his wife in west Belfast on bail while fighting extradition.
The Appeal Court is to set aside two days for the hearing in June.
