Eta killer has jumped bail in Northern Ireland, court told
José Ignacio de Juana Chaos, wanted in Spain on terrorism charges, is missing ahead of appeal against extradition
An Eta mass murderer who was fighting extradition from Northern Ireland to Spain has disappeared.
José Ignacio de Juana Chaos is wanted in Spain on charges of glorifying terrorism. He was convicted of 25 murders and served 21 years in jail before resettling in west Belfast. The Basque separatist had been out on bail ahead of an appeal against his extradition.
At the high court in Belfast judges have been told he had not reported to police or been at an agreed address in the city for more than a month. An application has been made to revoke bail.
The 54-year-old Eta militant is wanted in connection with the contents of a letter read out at a rally in San Sebastián the day after his release in August 2008. He had been living in Northern Ireland with his wife, but his extradition was ordered in March, when a judge rejected his claims he would not receive a fair trial.
His lawyers claimed any further imprisonment could leave him facing death because of his fragile mental health. He was due to appeal the extradition order next month. He was required to report daily to a police station, stay at a known address and observe a night-time curfew.
De Juana Chaos had received permission to work at two cafes. But Stephen Ritchie, for the Spanish authorities, said: “He has not reported to police since 25 March. He has not been at his home address when police called, or indeed the two named cafes. There is good reason to believe he may well have left the jurisdiction.”
De Juana Chaos’s lawyer, Sean Devine, said he had not made contact with his solicitors since 26 March. The case has been adjourned to allow further submissions.
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