Courts / Roscommon / Report
State bids to dismiss damages claim by man wrongly convicted of 1980 garda murder
Summary
The State has applied to the High Court to dismiss a damages claim brought by Peter Pringle, alleging want of prosecution and inordinate delay. Pringle, who was wrongly convicted of the 1980 murders of gardai John Morley and Henry Byrne, served 14 years and 10 months in prison before his conviction was quashed in 1995. He claims the State was negligent and breached his constitutional rights by failing to disclose crucial evidence prior to his Special Criminal Court trial. The State argues that many witnesses from the 1980 Ballaghadreen incident are now deceased or unable to recall events accurately. Pringle opposes the dismissal, asserting that any delay was caused by the State. He has moved for the discovery of documents relating to a 2002 DNA analysis by the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham, which reportedly matched hair from the robbery vehicle to him. Pringle's legal team, including Declan McGovern SC, states these materials are essential to demonstrate his innocence and progress the claim. The State denies the allegations regarding the report and opposes the discovery motion. The hearing before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart continues on Friday.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: State bids to dismiss damages claim by man wrongly convicted of 1980 garda murder. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 1980 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-01-31 Publication
Why: In his damages action, Mr Pringle claims the State was negligent and breached his constitutional rights because crucial evidence was not disclosed to him prior to his trial before the Special Criminal Court. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Mr Pringle, whose death sentence for the murder of gardai John Morley and Henry Byrne was commuted, opposes the application and has brought a motion to have the State discover documents related to DNA testing, which he says he requires to progress his damages claim.
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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