MAN TO BE EXTRADITED ON DRUGS CHARGES

A Scottish-based father of two is to be extradited to Ireland to face
drugs charges.

Mr James Smith is to be sent back to Ireland to go on trial accused of
operating a cannabis factory.

He has allegedly been on the run for more than three years after
jumping pounds 10,000 bail in 1997. He was arrested at a railway
station in the Perthshire village of Dunkeld on Thursday night.

Mr Smith (38), of Tayside Place, Aberfeldy, fled from Ireland when he
was due to go on trial on drug charges at Wicklow District Court. He
was granted bail and gave more than pounds 10,000 cash as a bond, but
left the money behind and went into hiding.

He is alleged to have operated a factory cultivating nearly 200
extra-strong cannabis plants known as skunk. Mr Smith faces five
charges relating to the drug and a further charge relating to the
intended supply of amphetamines.

The order to send him back to Ireland was granted by Sheriff Lindsay
Foulis at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday. Fiscal deputy Chris Macintosh
said: "There was a deliberate attempt for him to jump bail in the
Republic of Ireland. It was important enough for him to lose pounds
10,000 and stay well away from there and not answer the charges. It is
contrary to the public interest and to international comity for Smith
to be granted bail."

A solicitor, Mr David Holmes, said his client was afraid to be taken
back to Ireland because he was fearful for his life.

However, Mr Macintosh said that was an extra reason to believe he
would once again try to avoid going to court. "We have been told that
granting an order would be detrimental to the accused's well-being,
because forces in other countries would be interested in his arrival
there. That does not encourage me that the accused will adhere to the
condition of a bail order."

Mr Smith had handed over the cash surety on June 30th and was released
on bail to reappear on July 7th, 1997. The case centres on an alleged
skunk factory in Co Wicklow. It is alleged that when a house was
raided by the Garda they discovered 175 "skunk" plants growing there.