INTERPOL PROBE | 

Man wanted for gun murder of two Dubliners will be ‘safe’ in Irish jail, court told

The court was told the magistrate’s decision been reserved until January 10.

Today at 10:36

A South African man facing extradition for the alleged gun murder of two Dublin men would not be in in danger in an Irish jail, a court hearing was told yesterday.

Neville van der Westhuizen (41) is resisting extradition claiming he is at risk of being “executed” if he is brought back to jail in Ireland.

The claims were repeated at the latest extradition hearing in Durban Regional Court in South Africa on Wednesday, News24 have reported.

Following the legal arguments, the court was told the magistrate’s decision been reserved until January 10.

Van der Westhuizen is accused of the murder of Dubliners Eoin O’Connor (32) and Anthony Keegan (33) whose bodies were found in Co Meath May 26, 2014.

The remains of the two men were found wrapped in plastic sheeting and buried in a shallow grave on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin, Co Meath weeks after they were reported missing.

It is alleged that van der Westhuizen fled to South Africa in 2014 in the wake of the killings.

In November, Interpol working with local police tracked Van der Westhuizen to a prison where he was serving a 15-year-sentence for a separate murder.

On Wednesday, Van der Westhuizen’s lawyer, Ntando Cele, maintained their opposition to the extradition inquiry.

Cele repeated previous claims he has made that his client’s life would be under threat if he was brought back to Ireland.

Earlier this year, he stated that Van der Westhuizen had been threatened by the ‘Irish mafia’ and the IRA.

In court yesterday, Cele said: “The respondent [Van der Westhuizen] has received death threats from those associated with the deceased and we do not believe there will be protection for him, if he is extradited,” he said.

However, his claims were dismissed by senior prosecutor Naveen Sewpersat referred to affidavits previously deposed by Garda Inspector Micheal Dorrigan and Irish Prison Service officer William Burke.

In his affidavit, Dorrigan said there was no evidence Van der Westhuizen’s life was in danger in Ireland.

Burke’s affidavit said if Van der Westhuizen was convicted he would be interviewed about his security concerns, after which protection would be put in place.

Prosecutor Sewpersat said: “The State has been assured by the Irish authorities that there are safeguards in their prison system.

“Albeit claims that if he is extradited that his life would be in danger have no merit.”

He added Van der Westhuizen was liable for extradition because in their extradition request, Irish authorities had “established sufficient evidence to warrant the arrest of the respondent”.

He added Van der Westhuizen was liable for extradition because in their extradition request, Irish authorities had “established sufficient evidence to warrant the arrest of the respondent”.

Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Keegan went missing after Eoin borrowed his mother’s car to travel to Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan.

Before leaving Dublin, he is believed to have told a relative of his concerns over the visit.

When he failed to return home from the trip, his ­family raised the alarm.

The bodies were later found after a fisherman on the lake identified a smell coming from the tiny island.

The pair were not regarded as serious criminals by gardaí.