Lawyers for an Algerian man facing extradition to the United States on terrorism charges say he may end up in a supermax prison in Colorado, described by a former warden 'as a clean version of hell'.
Algerian Ali Charaf Damache was today granted a second senior counsel to fight against his surrender to the US authorities.
Mr. Justice John Edwards agreed to the request finding the 'matter is one of considerable complexity'.
The 47-year-old remains in custody after his second High Court appearance following his arrest on an extradition warrant in Waterford last Wednesday.
He is wanted in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and with identity theft to facilitate an act of terrorism; the latter charge holds a maximum sentence of 30 years in jail.
The court noted he is raising a multiplicity of issues to try prevent his surrender to the US authorities.
'Extradition is abuse of process'
His lawyers say the extradition case is an abuse of process. In reference to an earlier High Court decision in the case of former Workers' Party President Sean Garland they will argue Damache should not be extradited for offences that are alleged to have happened in Ireland.
They will also be raising concerns about prison conditions in the US.
Mark Lynam, BL, for Mr. Damache, told the court people convicted of terrorism offences end up in ADX supermax prison in Colorado and are kept in solitary confinement.
A former warden described the prison 'as a clean version of hell', he said. 'We'll be seeking detailed reports of how prisoners are kept'.
In 2010 Ali Charaf Damache was arrested over the 'Jihad Jane' plot to kill Swedish artist Lars Vilks who depicted the Muslim prophet Muhammad as a dog.
He was never charged over the conspiracy but was tried on a separate issue and last week pleaded guilty at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court to sending a menacing phone message to an American attorney who had organised a protest against Islamic extremism.
He walked free because Judge Donagh McDonagh took into consideration that he had spent nearly 3 years in prison waiting for his trial to come to court.
