Two More 'on The Run' Letters Issued...

[agchristie]

Should people mistakenly issued letters advising they are not being sought for offences be charged?

Review published today by Lady Hallett has revealed more letters sent in error following the Downey case (Hyde Park bombing)

[ummmm]

Have you got a link?

[Baldric]

Do you have a relevant link to the story please?

[black_cat51]

i understand all those words, but not your question!

[Baldric]

///It is common practice to offer a link to the news article you would like to discuss.///

[agchristie]

Sorry folks,having a few device issues at mo.Lead item bbc news n.ireland for time being - apologies!

[Gromit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28038783

// It is examining how over 200 people were told they were no longer wanted for paramilitary crimes committed before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

On The Runs are those suspected, but not convicted of paramilitary offences.

The case against Mr Downey collapsed after Judge Mr Justice Sweeney dismissed the case after it emerged Mr Downey had a letter from government officials mistakenly telling him he would not face criminal charges for the bombing. It emerged during the case that several hundred letters had been issued. //

Not sure why the hundreds who had been told they would not be charged cannot be sent a new letter explaining the mistake and that they may be charged. The original letters can be superseded by a later one surely.

[agchristie]

Gromit - very well put,many thanks!

[black_cat51]

perhaps they could argue that they could have acted differently (if not for the letter)? For example, perhaps a "you're not going to be charged" letter might prompt them to start boasting about the crimes in the PUb

[Gromit]

// The police had realised they had made a mistake, but the assurance to the County Donegal man was never withdrawn.

"Nothing in law or logic" explained their failure to rectify the error, Lady Justice Hallett said. //

[agchristie]

Yes,a staggering oversight.The irony in the Hyde Park case was that a guy convicted for his involvement won his appeal,after having served many years in prison...

[Old_Geezer]

Not only charged, I think they should send out such letters to all wanted criminals as see how many are daft enough to come out of hiding. Good ploy if you ask me.

[agchristie]

Not so daft as it sounds OG! Just to clear up my last post on Hyde Park,'Danny McNamee spent 12 years in jail of his 25 year sentence before being released under the GFA.His conviction was quashed soon after as unsafe.Interestingly though the appeal judges stated that he might not be innocent.Another botch trial as it emerged that vital fingerprint evidence which implicated others wasnt heard...