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27/07/2007
NI quashed conviction rates highest in UK
The level of quashed criminal convictions is higher in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK.
A report by officials examining possible miscarriages of justice said that a greater percentage of cases were also referred to the Court of Appeal last year.
Sexual offences that were passed as guilty were among the most likely cases to be appealed.
Helena Bracken, Regional Manager north west at the Nexus Institute for victims of sexual attacks, said that it is sending out the wrong message to victims and it looks like everything is stacked in favour of the perpetrators.
Delivery of drugs cases are often challenged with greater modern expertise meaning flaws can be uncovered in technical evidence given during trials.
Before March 2007 there were 131 applications submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and 16 of those were referred to the Court of Appeal, which shows a rate of 14% compared to a UK average of 4%.
Following reviews of the evidence by judges at the Court of Appeal, 13 convictions were quashed which shows a rate of 87% compared to the UK rate of 68%.
None of the statutory agencies were able to provide firm reasons for Northern Ireland's high levels of quashed convictions.
(SB/SP)
A report by officials examining possible miscarriages of justice said that a greater percentage of cases were also referred to the Court of Appeal last year.
Sexual offences that were passed as guilty were among the most likely cases to be appealed.
Helena Bracken, Regional Manager north west at the Nexus Institute for victims of sexual attacks, said that it is sending out the wrong message to victims and it looks like everything is stacked in favour of the perpetrators.
Delivery of drugs cases are often challenged with greater modern expertise meaning flaws can be uncovered in technical evidence given during trials.
Before March 2007 there were 131 applications submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and 16 of those were referred to the Court of Appeal, which shows a rate of 14% compared to a UK average of 4%.
Following reviews of the evidence by judges at the Court of Appeal, 13 convictions were quashed which shows a rate of 87% compared to the UK rate of 68%.
None of the statutory agencies were able to provide firm reasons for Northern Ireland's high levels of quashed convictions.
(SB/SP)
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