15/02/2008
'Armalite And Ballot Box' Man Granted Appeal
A jail term handed down to two well known republicans has been sent for appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission - but the reasons for referral have not been disclosed.
Former IRA prisoner and leading Sinn Fein public relations man Danny Morrison's bid to clear his name is to go to the Court of Appeal alongside that of Gerard Hodgkins who were each convicted of false imprisonment almost 17 years ago.
Danny Morrison is the best known of the two men - he is a former director of publicity for Sinn Fein - and the man who coined the phrase, 'the armalite and the ballot box'.
Hodgins and Morrison were convicted on 8 May 1991 at Belfast Crown Court and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and eight years' imprisonment respectively.
The Crown's case was that Mr Hodgins and Mr Morrison were amongst a number of people who falsely imprisoned unmasked informer Alexander (Sandy) Lynch in Belfast between 5 and 7 January 1990.
Mr Hodgins and Mr Morrison both appealed against conviction but their appeals were dismissed on 7 July 1992.
Both submitted applications to the Commission - Mr Morrison in 2004 and Mr Hodgins in 2007.
A statement yesterday relates: "Having considered a range of issues, the Commission has now decided to refer both convictions to the Court of Appeal.
"The reasons for the referrals have been provided in a confidential annex to the Court of Appeal and the Public Prosecution Service.
"The nature of the reasons for the referrals means that the Commission has been unable to inform Mr Hodgins, Mr Morrison or their representatives why these cases have been referred.
"It will be for the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal to make any further decisions on disclosure."
(BMcC)
Former IRA prisoner and leading Sinn Fein public relations man Danny Morrison's bid to clear his name is to go to the Court of Appeal alongside that of Gerard Hodgkins who were each convicted of false imprisonment almost 17 years ago.
Danny Morrison is the best known of the two men - he is a former director of publicity for Sinn Fein - and the man who coined the phrase, 'the armalite and the ballot box'.
Hodgins and Morrison were convicted on 8 May 1991 at Belfast Crown Court and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and eight years' imprisonment respectively.
The Crown's case was that Mr Hodgins and Mr Morrison were amongst a number of people who falsely imprisoned unmasked informer Alexander (Sandy) Lynch in Belfast between 5 and 7 January 1990.
Mr Hodgins and Mr Morrison both appealed against conviction but their appeals were dismissed on 7 July 1992.
Both submitted applications to the Commission - Mr Morrison in 2004 and Mr Hodgins in 2007.
A statement yesterday relates: "Having considered a range of issues, the Commission has now decided to refer both convictions to the Court of Appeal.
"The reasons for the referrals have been provided in a confidential annex to the Court of Appeal and the Public Prosecution Service.
"The nature of the reasons for the referrals means that the Commission has been unable to inform Mr Hodgins, Mr Morrison or their representatives why these cases have been referred.
"It will be for the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal to make any further decisions on disclosure."
(BMcC)
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