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.

His wife and her parents, Bill and Phyl O’Reilly, who travelled to Greece for their son-in-law’s hearing, which was already postponed from last December, were dismayed by the events but said if it was a choice between the case proceeding before an impartial chairman or waiting a while longer to get a fair hearing, they were prepared to wait.

“It’s been very, very strenuous and stressful 10 days that we have had here — this time more than ever,” said Mr O’Reilly.

“The only good thing about this time is that the police have been much more respectful towards us, where in past court appearances, we have been treated quite badly, so I think even they are beginning to see through this sham.”

Mr Marku has been behind bars for almost four years since he was arrested along with several other Albanians in Greece, where he and Julie met and where he was back visiting a brother.

He was subsequently convicted in January 2012 despite proof that he was in Ireland, where the couple had settled, for some of the most serious of the offences of which he was accused.

Caseworkers from the Irish Innocence Project, who have helped put together his defence case, were in Greece for the appeal, including colleague, Greg Hampikian, a DNA expert from the US Innocence Project, was trying to testify about the unreliability of DNA evidence alleged to connect Mr Marku to one of the crime scenes when the chairman interrupted him.

“The racial comments from one of the witnesses, and those shouted from the gallery during my testimony are incredibly disturbing,” he said. “The atmosphere is not at all neutral.”

Head of the Irish Innocence Project, Griffith College law lecturer and barrister, David Langwallner, expressed disappointment with the latest turn of events.

“The scene in the court room was at times chaotic with shouting and racist epithets against Albanians being used by witnesses and members of the gallery,” he said.

“I am disappointed that after securing travel support from Griffith College, that the trial was not complete. It is my earnest hope that Mark will see justice soon.”