A Co Cork couple accused of kidnapping their nine-year-old grandson in the US are fighting extradition proceedings which opened in the High Court today.
Tim and Ethel Blake from Cobh, both aged 60, are alleged to have deceived their daughter and kidnapped their grandson in the US and bringing him back to Ireland in July 2004.
Opening the case for the AG, Mary Ellen Ring SC said the Blakes had lost their custody battle over their grandchild.
Tim and Ethel Blake were on holiday in the US when Tim told his daughter he was dying and wanted to spend time with his grandson.
His daughter allowed her parents to meet the boy in a restaurant for two hours on condition they gave her their passports.
But they took the boy out of the country and the passports they had handed over turned out to be duplicates.
Although the boy was returned in November 2004, the US authorities want Mr and Mrs Blake extradited to face charges of aggravated kidnap, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.
The hearing is expected to last two days.
