Description
Anne Maguire, Patrick Maguire, Patrick Maguire, Vincent Maguire, Sean Smyth, Patrick O’Neil and Patrick Conlon (known as the Maguire 7) were convicted of possessing nitroglycerine after a search of the house found traces under the male defendants nails and on gloves in the house. The appeal was allowed on the basis of problems with the forensic science used in the case. It was shown that contamination could have been the result of contact with hands that had been in contact with explosives, rather than direct contact. There were also failures by the Crown to disclose results of other tests (e.g. negative tests for the presence of nitrotoluols).
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Overview
Jurisdiction
England & Wales
First & Last Name
Patrick
O’Neil
Gender
M
Ethnicity
White
Age When Imprisoned
35
Age When Released
Years in Prison
8
Compensation
Compensation Paid
Yes
Compensation Type
Compensation Amount
Dates
Year of Crime
1974
Year of Conviction
1976
Year Conviction was Overturned
1991
Excerpt
Research information
Reference
73
Offences
Offence
Other
Offence Convicted Of
Possession of Explosive Substance
Most Serious Offence
Other
Courts
Factors Involved
False or misleading forensic evidence
Guilty Plea
Tried with Others
Yes
Retrial
Majority Verdict
Unanimous Verdict
Evidence
Type of Witness Evidence
Affirmative Evidence of Innocence
Fresh Evidence
Evidence undermining forensic science
CCRC Referral
Neutral Citation
[1992] 2 W.L.R. 767
Online Press
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-46255575, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/25/british-injustice-maguire-story-review-family, https://www.thejusticegap.com/a-great-british-injustice-the-maguire-seven-revisited/
Crown Argued Case at CofA
Previous Appeals
Unsuccessful appeal in 1977
Number of Previous Applications
1