Irish reject Russell’s asylum plea

The Irish government has reportedly rejected fugitive Frederick Russell’s bid for asylum.

Whitman County Deputy Prosecutor Carol LaVerne said Friday she had received an e-mail from the U.S. Office of International Affairs saying the Irish government denied Russell’s request.

Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy said his office had not received official confirmation.

Such a decision would likely hasten Russell’s return to face vehicular homicide and assault charges in Whitman County, stemming from a fatal collision that left three Washington State University students dead on the Pullman-Moscow Highway in June 2001.

The Irish Supreme Court last week rejected Russell’s appeal of Justice Michael Peart’s extradition order and told Russell he would be transported back to the United States to face the charges.

Shortly after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Russell, 27, applied for asylum under newly broadened regulations allowing people who do not fit the traditional definition of a refugee to apply for political asylum if they face a real risk of serious harm if returned to their own countries.

It was not immediately known when U.S. Marshals Service agents might bring Russell back to the United States.

Russell skipped bail and fled the country in October 2001, shortly after he was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of vehicular assault in Whitman County.

Irish police arrested Russell last October after receiving a tip he was working as a security guard at a Dublin lingerie shop under the name David Carroll.

Russell was briefly on the Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted list, and his image on the Internet apparently led to the tip on his whereabouts.

A former WSU student, Russell is accused of driving a Chevrolet Blazer at about 90 mph in a 55 mph zone, trying to pass other vehicles and striking three cars the night of June 4, 2001.

Killed were WSU seniors Brandon Clements, 22, of Wapato; Stacy G. Morrow, 21, of Milton; and Ryan Sorensen, 21, of Westport.

Seriously injured were John Wagner, of Harrington, Kara Eichelsdoerfer, of Central Park, and Sameer Ranade, of Kennewick.

The fourth vehicular assault charge involved a person in another vehicle.