Concern at further delays in Marku appeal

The Irish Innocence Project have expressed concern at further delays in the appeal court hearing of a man sentenced to 18 years in prison in Greece for robberies he could not have committed because he was in Ireland at the time.

Mark Marku, 29, who was born in Albania and who is married to Co Carlow woman Julie O’Reilly, must now wait until June 6 to see if his appeal will proceed, with the possibility it will be postponed for several more months.

His hearing in Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete was adjourned amid chaotic scenes yesterday after his defence lawyer raised concerns about racist abuse being shouted from the public gallery, and questioned the impartiality of the chair of the five-judge panel hearing the case after he refused to allow him question a key defence witness.