After a long and prominent campaign in which her mother took a leading role supported by many influential citizens, including politicians, from the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States, British Home Secretary Jack Straw vetoed the extradition on health grounds.
[2] Due to the nature of the European Arrest Warrant, McAliskey spent 18 months in jail despite never being charged with any crime.
Her UK lawyers were unable to view any of the evidence that led to the warrant in Germany and only following discoveries made by a German television programme and the appointment of a German lawyer to examine the files in Germany did it become clear that she had no case to answer.
[It] has concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of convicting Miss McAliskey for any offence arising out of the Osnabruk bombing.
"'[4] While not widely reported at the time it was believed that this announcement brought an end to the matter, however that turned out not to be the case.