Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The central point of this topical issue is the human right to have access to justice and due process, which has been denied to the Craigavon two. We all understand the implications of wrongful conviction. In this case we have unsound forensic evidence as well as non-disclosure, mishandling and destruction of evidence and flawed eyewitness testimony. Mr. Brendan McConville and Mr. John Paul Wooton have been in jail for nearly ten years on the basis of that so-called evidence. We travelled to Westminster recently out of a sense of frustration at the denial of justice and due process for these two men. One can only imagine their frustration, having been in Maghaberry Prison for nearly ten years. While in Westminster, we heard an outline of the case from one of their solicitors. Reference was made to witness M, whose father signed an affidavit that his son was a fantasist and a very vulnerable person. What happened then? The father was arrested. What happened to witness M? He was looked after very well financially and the defence team was not given the opportunity to cross-examine him. It was also proven that witness M's poor eyesight could not have allowed him to make the identification.

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