Budapest Two face further delay on justice

Wednesday, 29th February 2012

UKIP MEP William Dartmouth has been in a Budapest court today to hear that two of his constituents extradited to Hungary under European Arrest Warrants, will not given a verdict on their guilt or innocence until later this year.

Former business partners Michael Turner, 30, and Jason McGoldrick, 39, have already spent four months in deplorable prison conditions in Hungary following the collapse of their timeshare business and their case is not expected to come to trial until April.

The Earl of Dartmouth, who has been following the case for two years, said: "The final verdict will not now be delivered until June this year, a full six years after the last of allegations in this sad case.

"It is totally unjust that these two men and their family have had to put their lives on hold over allegations relating to a relatively small amount of money.

"I am sure in the UK, the case would come before a civil court rather than a criminal court as here in Hungary today.

"Having worked extensively with these men for two years, I am appalled at the treatment that the European Arrest Warrant has caused them to receive. They have already endured four months in atrocious prison conditions.

"Just last night, I learned their families have had to spend their life savings and more on paying their fees to ensure their freedom.

"It is quite disgraceful that terror-suspect Abu Qatada gets his legal fees funded by the taxpayer, while these British citizen have been bled dry in order to ensure their freedom from imprisonment."

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