The case returns to court next week.

An Irishman, sought in connection with the murder of a couple in Armagh in 2006, is facing extradition from Australia having been arrested here.

Stiofán MacGabhann, 29, appeared at Sydney local court today, having been arrested on Wednesday following a request from the PSNI. At the hearing, he was ordered to appear again on February 1.

He is wanted in Northern Ireland in connection with the 2006 murders of Thomas O’Hare and his girlfriend Lisa McClatchey.

The couple were attacked by a gang at their home at near Keady in November 2006.

They were beaten with hammers and doused in petrol before being set alight and both died in hospital of their injuries.

In what appeared to be a related development, four brothers subsequently presented to a Co Louth hospital with serious burns and were transferred to the specialist burns unit at St James’ Hospital in Dublin.

In December, on foot of a European arrest warrant, two brothers wanted in connection with the murders were ordered to be extradited from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland.

Martin Smith was arrested in county Louth and told Gardaí he has a number of scars and burns.

His brother Niall Smith was arrested in north county Dublin.

A spokesman for the Australian Attorney-General’s Department said MacGabhann is being sought for prosecution.

“I confirm that a 29-year-old man, a citizen of Ireland and the United Kingdom, was arrested on January 24, 2013, in response to a request for extradition made by the United Kingdom.

“The man is wanted to face prosecution in the United Kindgom for murder and arson offences,” he said

He said it would be inappropriate to comment further with the matter now before courts.