Man wanted for pollution to be extradited to US

A Irish man who was caught in Malta after being wanted by Californian authorities for allegedly polluting San Diego harbour yesterday surrendered himself but is unlikely to face jail.

Defence lawyers Steve Tonna Lowell and Patrick Valentino informed the court that Mr O'Connor had reached a plea bargain with the US authorities whereby a jail term was unlikely. He was previously facing up to a maximum of 33 years in jail if found guilty on all the charges.

Mr O'Connor, dressed in a smart dark blue suit, was out on bail after having been found in Malta in July.

Yesterday's hearing was over in less than half an hour after his lawyer made known that he was acceding to the extradition request.

He is now expected to leave the island in three days' time to face US courts.

He is wanted by the American authorities for allegedly casting concrete, plastic, scrap metal and other waste into the harbour in 2006 after carrying out renovation work on a fishing vessel, the 150-foot F/V Maru. The Maltese authorities managed to track him down through his tug-boat business in Malta.

The US authorities issued an arrest warrant in 2007 and his photo and details had appeared on the Interpol website, in the wanted section.