A man wanted in respect of a double murder in Northern Ireland over ten years ago has appeared before the High Court in Dublin.
35-year-old Gerard Lagan originally from Belfast, with an address at Shamrock Grove, Dunleer, in Co Louth was brought before Mr Justice Tony O'Connor on foot of a European Arrest Warrant seeking his surrender issued by the authorities in Northern Ireland.
He is facing charges in connection with the murders of Edward Burns and Joseph Jones in Belfast. The men's bodies were found hours apart in the city on 12 March, 2007.
Mr Burns, aged 36, from Ardoyne in north Belfast, was found shot in the head in a car park near a GAA club at Bog Meadows off the Falls Road. Mr Jones, aged 38, from Poleglass in west Belfast, was found beaten to death in an alleyway in Ardoyne.
The court heard that Mr Lagan was arrested in Dunleer at 8.30am on Friday morning by Detective Sargeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit.
Giving details of Mr Lagan's arrest, charge and caution Det Sgt Kirwan said that after he put the charges contained in the warrant to Mr Lagan, and asked him if he knew what they were about, he replied "no".
Mr Lagan did not speak during the brief hearing on Friday afternoon and was represented in court by barrister John Berry Bl.
No application for bail was made, however, Mr Berry said it was his client's intention to seek bail at a later date.
Following the remand in custody Mr Berry said that if it were possible his client would prefer to be remanded in custody to Portlaoise Prison, rather than Cloverhill.
However, the court was informed that the location of Mr Lagan's custody was a matter for the Minister for Justice and not the court.
The case will return before the courts on 18 September.
