Judith Ward freed

Judith Ward, jailed by a British court in 1974 over an army coach bombing in which 12 people died, was freed on May 11 after an appeal court ruled her conviction unsafe and unsatisfactory. Her release after 18 years follows numerous other miscarriages of justice against Irish people tried in Britain.

The appeal court was told the original trial had not been informed of Ward's history of mental illness before her arrest and her possible unfitness to plead. Neither the court nor her family were told of a suicide attempt while Ward was in custody.

The appeal court was told Ward had changed her "confession" several times, and police and the prosecution had to select parts of her statements to construct a plausible version. The prosecution also concealed other important facts from the defence.

As well, evidence from discredited forensic scientist Frank Skuse had been important to her conviction. Skuse's flawed methods had also been crucial in the conviction of the Birmingham Six and other Irish suspects.

Since the Guildford Four became the first Irish prisoners to have their convictions overturned two and a half years ago, 38 people have had convictions quashed.

From GLW issue 56