Politicians to meet human rights lawyer over jailed jockey

THE campaign to free jailed Tipperary jockey Christy McGrath will be brought to the London offices of celebrated human rights solicitor Gareth Peirce today.

Two politicians from the county will voice their concerns over the alleged miscarriage of justice victim from Carrick-on-Suir, who is serving a life sentence for murder in Britain.

Tom Hayes TD and Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú will meet Ms Peirce during their weekend visit to London for the Irish community’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

McGrath’s legal representative is Gareth Peirce, who secured pardons for the Birmingham Six, Guildford Four and Clonmel man Frank Johnson.

The 28-year-old jockey is serving a life sentence for the murder of Gary Walton in Durham in July 2000, a crime he and his supporters claim he didn’t commit.

He has been in custody since being arrested shortly after Mr Walton’s murder, and was convicted of murder at Teesside Crown Court five years ago.

Deputy Hayes said he and Senator Ó Murchú would explain to Ms Peirce the concerns of McGrath’s family.

They would also impress upon Ms Peirce the support the request for a re-trial had attracted throughout Ireland, with 130 TDs, Senators and MEPs questioning the soundness of the conviction, and calling for the case to be referred to the British Court of Appeal.

Mr Hayes said he is convinced McGrath, a respected jockey at Norman Mason’s Brancepeth stables in Durham before his arrest, conviction and imprisonment, didn’t get a fair trial.

Deputy Hayes and Senator Ó Murchú will meet the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and campaign supporter, MP John McDonnell, at separate dinners over the weekend.

Mr McDonnell last month tabled an Early Day Motion at the House of Commons in support of McGrath.

Senator Ó Murchú said: “There are huge doubts about this whole case. In normal circumstances, and with a focussed legal team Christy McGrath shouldn’t be in prison.”

He said many Oireachtas members had analysed the facts surrounding the case and said there were grounds for an appeal. He said the meeting with Ms Peirce would enable them to ascertain the next legal steps that would need to be taken.

He said he had arranged a meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern and British-based campaigners, the date of which has to be confirmed.

Senator Ó Murchú paid tribute to Deputy Seamus Healy, the London Tipperary Association and the many other supporters for their work on the case.