Thatcher Scolds Irish Leader on IRA Extradition Case

RHODES, Greece —  Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on Saturday told Ireland’s Charles Haughey of Britain’s dismay that his country has not detained a suspected Irish Republican Army guerrilla whom Britain wants extradited.

The British and Irish leaders had an hour of private talks after a European Communities summit in Rhodes and discussed the case of Father Patrick Ryan, 58, a priest who is now free at a religious order in his native Ireland while Dublin considers his extradition.

It followed an angry bilateral meeting Friday between Thatcher and Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens over Belgium’s decision last week to deport Ryan to Ireland instead of Britain.

“I have let them know the utter dismay not merely of the British government but also of the British people at being so badly let down,” Thatcher said of her talks with the two leaders.

“It is not enough to sign ringing declarations against terrorism. What matters is effective action to bring before the courts persons charged with terrorist offenses,” Thatcher told a news conference.