A Letter from the Craigavon Two, Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton written from Maghaberry Prison after their appeal was dismissed earlier this year. John Paul Wootton is to appear in court tomorrow when Britain's chief prosecutor in the North, Barra McGrory, will seek to have his sentence increased.
Following what we can only describe as the politically expedient and unjustifiable dismissal of our appeal against our wrongful convictions, we would like to take this opportunity to once again state publicly that we (Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton ) had no part or role whatsoever in any activity connected in any way to death of Stephen Carroll.
While the blatant biased decision of the Court of Appeal, was deeply disappointing for not only ourselves and our families, but also the numerous organisations and individuals who have continually found the strength and courage to stand firm against this injustice, we regrettably concede that our experience of this seriously flawed system has led us to conclude that our only realistic hope for achieving justice, lies with you the public and your continued support, both at an individual level and also in collaboration with the Justice for the Craigavon Two campaign committee.
All those who have followed our case will be only too well aware of the extensive catalogue of improprieties, negligence and even misconduct that characterised the Crown's case against us, such as witness intimidation, evidence tampering, failure to disclose exculpatory evidence, forensic negligence and a failure to even conduct an identity parade, to name but a few yet at every opportunity the courts have either excused or even endorsed this behavior, and still we must return to these very same courts in our pursuit of justice.
While we must acknowledge that this partial court system is the only mechanism available to us to obtain our eventual release, we also acknowledge that the only real momentum for the realisation of that eventuality will come from you, the public, and not from a corrupted system where the presumption of innocence has been replaced by a single judge who along with his traditional role, also fulfills the role of the entire jury single-handedly. We place our faith in the jury that really matters and that is the jury of public opinion, we ask that you demand justice for the Craigavon Two and justice for all.
Is mise le meas
Brendan McConville & John Paul Wootton
Roe House (4)
Maghaberry Prison
17 Old Road
Upper Ballinderry
Lisburn
Co. Antrim
Bt28 2pt
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