The High Court has ordered the surrender of John Downey to authorities in Northern Ireland, where he is wanted to face charges of murder.

An arrest warrant was issued after a decision was made to prosecute him for the murder of two British soldiers when an IRA car bomb exploded in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh in 1972.

Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames from the Ulster Defence Regiment died when an IRA car bomb exploded.

Last year, authorities in Northern Ireland decided to bring two charges of murder against John Downey and a charge of aiding and abetting the causing of an explosion.

Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said she considered John Downey's objections on a number of grounds - including the delay in bringing the prosecution, his claims of abuse of process, and a letter of assurance which he believed amounted to a pardon or amnesty.

The letter was issued by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's government as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

He believed it would be "oppressive to surrender him" as a result.

But Ms Justice Donnelly disagreed and made the order today.

However, he has been given a few days to consider the judgement and decide whether or not he wants to seek leave to appeal.

Main image: John Downey (centre front) leaves the Central Criminal Courts in Dublin after the adjournment of an extradition hearing over the murder of two Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldiers in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, in 1972 | Image: Donall Farmer/PA Wire/PA Images

Reporting by Frank Greaney