Human rights commission allowed to join Artur Celmer extradition case

The High Court yesterday granted leave to the human rights commission to become formally involved in the proceedings as they relate to human rights and equality rights.

The case centres on the requested extradition of Artur Celmer, a Polish national, to Poland under a European Arrest Warrant, where concerns have been raised over recent legislative changes in Poland about the independence of the judiciary, the courts and the Public Prosecutor.

These changes, according to Mr Celmer, undermine the possibility of him having a fair trial.

Following a referral of two questions by the High Court in Dublin to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg, the High Court has been advised by the CJEU that it must make a specific and precise assessment on whether, there is a real risk that the respondent’s fair trial rights will be breached.