Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

11.00: Deceased members of the Lee family.
6.30: Elizabeth Didsbury, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

In Britain recently Richard Foster, head of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) ordered an urgent review of all cases where DNA evidence was used in securing criminal convictions. Some blatant 'miscarriages of justice' have recently come to light. Science evolves. What was accepted as 'scientifically sound', and therefore legally safe, some years ago would be thrown out today. "Scientific understanding and certainty can actually shift - in cot deaths, for example - and understanding of scientific evidence can change. You need to be sure it has been explained properly to the jury." said Foster.

Leading civil rights lawyer, Campbell Malone, claims that there are now as many miscarriage of justice victims behind bars in Britain as there were in the 70s and 80s. "The Government would seem to be of the view that it would be better for the odd person to spend their life in prison for a crime they did not commit than to have the inconvenience of it being exposed."

The cases that first prompted serious concern involved the Birmingham six and the Guildford four, both during a period when the IRA was active in Britain. Foster said there were similar concerns today. "Where there is intense pressure - public, political pressure - in a particular case and around terror, there is always the risk that safeguards that should be in place won't be applied as they should be," he said.

Gerry Conlon spent fifteen years in prison after being wrongly convicted. Physical imprisonment is easily ended. Psychological imprisonment can be a life sentence. The experience had a devastating impact on him. He has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, two breakdowns and an attempted suicide.

As Richard Foster warned in Britain, where there is intense public pressure for a conviction, there is always the risk that safeguards will be ignored. If you substitute 'child abuse' for 'terrorism', then the name Michael Feichín Hannon may ring bells. Hannon's ten-year-old neighbour Una Hardester accused him of sexual assault in 1999. He denied this. He was convicted and given a four-year suspended sentence. But conviction for paedophilia is in effect a life sentence. He was condemned to live out his days as a social pariah.

In 2006, a mature Una Hardester returned from the US and informed the Guards that she had made up the story. She never met Hannon in her life. But no one bothered to inform Hannon of this development. Hannon's sister happened to meet Hardester by chance in Galway. She told her she had confessed to the lie. When approached, the Guards said they had sent the file to the DPP. After two years of foot-dragging, the DPP claimed he lost the file! Yet the State opposed Hannon's application for a Miscarriage of Justice Cert, an essential instrument if he was to secure compensation!

This miscarriage of justice came about, not because of scientific progress, but because of the state's initial incompetence and subsequent criminal indifference. Even when his innocence was proved to all the key actors, this fact was still concealed from Michael Hannon. I hope he gets justice, and millions!

-Dick Lyng

HAPPENINGS

Before you go...

An old Rabbi was lying dangerously ill in his bed and his disciples were holding a reverend, whispered conversation by his bedside. They were extolling his unrivalled virtues.

"Not since the time of Solomon has there been one as wise as he," said one of them tearfully.

"And his faith! It equals that of our father Abraham!" said another.

"Surely his patience surpasses that of Job," said a third.

"Only in Moses can we find someone who conversed as intimately with God," said a fourth.

The rabbi seemed restless.

When his disciples had gone, his wife said to him, "Did you actually hear them sing your praises?"

"I did indeed," said the rabbi.

"Then why are you so worried?" asked the wife.

"My modesty," he said. "Not one of them mentioned my great modesty!"

You know you are old when...

VACATION

In my head I hear a humming:
Summer, summer summer's coming.
Soon we're going on vacation
But there is a complication:
Day by day the problem's growing -
We don't know yet where we're going!

Mother likes the country best;
That's so she can read and rest.
Dad thinks resting is a bore;
He's for fishing at the shore.
Sailing is my brother's pick;
Sailing makes my sister sick;
She says swimming's much more cool,
Swimming in a swimming pool.
As for me, why, I don't care,
I'd be happy anywhere!

In my head I hear a humming:
Summer, summer, summer's coming.
Soon we're going on vacation
But we have a complication:
Day by day the problem's growing -
Where oh where will we be going?

-Mary Ann Hoberman

Quote, unquote...

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