Project to prove more miscarriages of justice

After exonerating Harry Gleeson, a Tipperary man wrongfully executed for a murder he did not commit, members of the Irish Innocence Project are working to prove more miscarriages of justice.

Sat, 18 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Kelly O'Brien

The initiative is currently focusing on 28 cases, including that of Mark Marku who has been jailed in Greece for crimes international justice campaigners say he could not have committed.

Mark, originally from Albania, met Carlow woman Julie O’Reilly in Greece. They were married in Ireland in 2009 and were living here when Mark was arrested on a return visit to Crete the following year.

He was convicted, along with a number of other Albanian men, for a series of robberies, even though he was in Ireland when many of the more serious offences took place.

Mark was sentenced to 18 years in prison. After an appeal, this sentence was marginally reduced — to 16 years and nine months.

Despite documentary evidence, vouched for by the Government, showing that Mark was in Ireland when a number of the robberies occurred, the prosecution in the court of appeal decided if Mark was not in the country, he must have organised the crimes from Ireland.

“People get wrongfully convicted of things all too often,” said Anne O’Driscoll, who works with the project. “We want people to understand this is a very real issue. It’s important to understand, when there is a wrongful conviction, it’s a double miscarriage of justice. On the one hand, someone innocent is convicted, and on the other hand, the person actually responsible is not held accountable.”

The Irish Innocence Project is working on a number of historical cases at the moment, though most of their active investigations are from the last 15 to 20 years.

The cases are all of a serious nature, dealing with crimes such as murder, rape and sexual assault. With the exception of Mark Marku’s case, the projects all focus on potential miscarriages of justice in the Republic of Ireland.

The project currently has 21 students from Griffith College, Trinity College Dublin, and Dublin City University working on cases under the supervision of eight lawyers working on a pro-bono basis.

To raise awareness of their work, the Irish Innocence Project is hosting an International Conference on Wrongful Convictions, Human Rights and the Student Learning Experience.

Speakers include former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, Mark Marku’s wife Julie, and Gareth Peirce, a solicitor and human rights activist known for her work in the case involving Gerry Conlon and the Guildford Four.

A Wrongful Conviction Film Festival will be held in conjunction with the conference, showing films such as In the Name of the Father, Convicted, and The Central Park Five.

Both events will take place on June 26 and 27. Early bird registration rates are €100 and student discounts of €50 per person for a group of three students until April 30. For more information, go to www.innocenceproject.ie.

The group has also launched a fundraising campaign. To make a donation, go to www.indigogo.com or click here.