“MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE -
TIME TO BRING JUSTICE
TO THE INNOCENT”
AT 1.15PM
ON SATURDAY 24 JANUARY 2009
IN ARMAGH CITY HOTEL
PADDY HILL, BIRMINGHAM SIX
RAYMOND MCCORD, JUSTICE CAMPAIGNER
BRID VOYLE, BALLYMURPHY MASSACRE FAMILIES
GERRY CONLON, GILFORD FOUR
CHAIR: ALEX ATTWOOD MLA
Welcome to my first, of what I hope to be many posts on no gloss just matt.
Usually I spent the 23rd of January on my own. It’s my father Guiseppe’s anniversary; this year is the 29th anniversary of his death in London’s Wormwood Scrubs prison. He was half way through a 12-year prison sentence for something he didn’t do, or indeed knew anything about.
A fact well known, not only to the British police but also, and more importantly, to the British Judiciary and the then government of the day.
But this 23rd I will be attending the SDLP Annual Conference which is being held in Armagh. I’ve been to a couple of SDLP Conferences before, the last being in 2005 after Tony Blair, the then British Prime Minister apologised for what had happened to us. He also made promises that he failed to keep.
This year I have been invited to speak at a fringe event organised by the West Belfast Branch of the SDLP, focusing on justice issues. Paddy Hill of the Birmingham Six will be attending. It should be lively and colourful as Paddy is a very straight talker. Hope to see you all there.
Gerry Conlon.
I’d like to kick off the New Year with an update on whats coming up on no gloss just matt. As mentioned in the previous post a guest blogger would be introduced - so a new and very welcome addition to the blog will be guest blogger: Gerry Conlon.
Gerry, a native of West Belfast, is a victim of circumstance and a deplorable miscarrage of british justice, one of the Gilford Four. He was wrongly convicted of the IRA bombs that murdered 5 people and injured 65. The film ‘In The Name of The Father’ portrayed his story and is still a very popular film among many of today’s young people.
Today, despite his own struggles, he speaks out for those who have been the victims of circumstance and suffered their own miscarrage of justice, in what ever form.
He is very welcome and his first post will be one to read. It is expected to be posted just before the SDLP Annual Conference which is being held from Friday 23rd January to Sunday 25th January.
So watch this space.
