Distretto Nord

Niente libertà per Colin Duffy

Bail refused as campaign group criticise the PPS

Free Duffy - Falls Road, Belfast - © q-design.it
The campaign group ‘The Friends of Colin Duffy’ strongly criticise the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in relation to the handling of the case against Colin. In a recent letter sent to Colin’s legal team, the PPS basically outlined that they no longer seek to rely upon the evidence at the committal proceedings of their own forensic scientist who conducted a soil analysis. The campaign group is also highly critical of the introduction of a recent report based on pollen analysis.

At a bail hearing today the prosecution confirmed it will no longer be relying on a separate soil study for a planned preliminary enquiry to decide if he should stand trial. However, in a further attempt to recoup the loss of the soil analysis the PPS have introduced a pollen analysis. Significantly, this latest report was only received by Colin’s defence on the eve of the bail hearing, despite this analysis having been conducted around the time of the soil analysis. This led to Colin’s barrister to refer to an abuse of process. The judge presiding over the bail hearing commented that the circumstances in which the pollen report has emerged were “rather glossed over by the prosecution”.

From the outset, the PPS relied heavily on the soil analysis evidence and they presented it as a substantial part of the case against Colin.. As far back as December 2009 the soil analysis was introduced at a bail hearing by those opposed to Colin getting bail. For 11 months now Colin’s legal team have been thwarted in attempts to examine this so called evidence. Now on the eve of the committal proceedings the PPS decides not to rely upon this evidence. Why has it taken so long for the PPS to come to the conclusion that what they clearly viewed as a substantial part of the case against Colin, has now suddenly become evidence “that the prosecution no longer seek to rely upon”?

Likewise, the late introduction of this pollen analysis report will only delay the length of time Colin will have to spend on remand before case comes to trial. Mark Mulholland, defending, voiced a sustained criticism of the handling of the case against Colin. Mr Mulholland argued that Colin should be granted bail on the basis of a delay in bringing the case to trial. Despite the strength of Mr Mulholland’s arguments the judge refused bail.

Colin’s family are insistent that Colin is innocent of all charges against him and that he is a victim of British state persecution. Colin has been effectively interned. What we have been witnessing over this last 18 or so months is that the case against Colin based on the flimsiest of evidence has started to crumble, as evidenced in these latest developments. How much longer will it take in order for Colin to be released.

Pagina precedente 1 2
Tags

René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

Related Articles

Close