THE extradition case against two Carlisle men who are suspects in the Ryan Kirkpatrick murder probe has been adjourned by a Dublin judge for a further two weeks.

Kane Hull, 28, and Liam Porter, 32, were identified last year during a hearing at Dublin’s High Court after they were detained on European arrest warrants following their arrest on suspicion of murder.

Mr Kirkpatrick, 24, died on September 18 last year after he was stabbed while in Carlyle's Court in Carlisle city centre. Despite desperate efforts to save him, he was confirmed dead at the scene.

Detectives say they believe the killing was "targeted".

At Dublin’s High Court today, lawyers for both men submitted their legal objections to the continuation of the extradition process from the Republic of Ireland back to the UK. It was suggested the case against the defendants lacked "clarity".

After hearing those arguments – from counsel for both Porter and Hull - Ms Justice Biggs adjourned their cases until February 17.

On that day, said the judge, she hoped that she would be in a position to make a final ruling on the two extradition applications. Mr Kirkpatrick’s death triggered a huge police investigation.

By mid-October, police had made 13 arrests in connection with the tragedy. Several people were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Hull, of Bower Street, Carlisle, and Porter, of Fulmer Place, Carlisle, have been held in custody since their arrest.

The county's most senior detective, Det Chief Supt Dean Holden, said that "strong evidence" about the killing was gathered. He said he was confident the suspects in Dublin would be successfully extradited.

Commenting last month, he said: "I'm as satisfied as I can be that we have got some strong evidence.”

In the weeks after the murder, police urged motorists who may have relevant dashcam footage to get in touch.

They were particularly keen to gather footage - taken between 8pm and 9pm on the evening of the tragedy - that covered Carlyle’s Court, Fisher Street, Market Street, West Tower Street, Castle Way, Wigton Road, Newtown Road and Burgh Road.

There was a huge outpouring of sympathy for Mr Kirkpatrick, whose family described him as “beautiful, kind and caring”, and added that he would “always be the light of our family.”