Case: Colm Murphy

Colm Murphy was convicted of conspiring to cause an explosion. He was alleged to be one of four men involved in an IRA bombing that killed 29 people, and unborn twins. The original trial found that he lent the gang who planted the bomb his mobile phone and another phone, knowing they would be used for moving bombs. His conviction was quashed on appeal on two grounds. First, due to significant alterations made to interview notes which made them tainted as evidence and the way in which the trial judge dealt with the evidence of these alterations at trial. Second, due to the reference to Murphy’s previous convictions that were “manifestly inadmissible” being allowed at trial. He was acquitted at a retrial.