Risteard
12-21-2007, 07:00 PM
DISCREDITED LCN DNA MUST BE THROWN OUT
Reacting to the verdict in the trial of South Armagh man Seán Hoey, RSF National Publicity Officer Richard Walsh stated on December 20th that no cases relying on the use of Low Copy DNA should proceed. He also remarked that many politicians had remained silent on the issue of an innocent man spending over four years in gaol.
"The malicious prosecution of Seán Hoey from Jonesboro, Co. Armagh, has again shown that the Brits will stop at no lengths to punish those suspected of opposing English rule in Ireland" he said.
"Seán Hoey was incarcerated for over four years before his final acquittal. Nearly a whole year lapsed between the conclusion of his trial and the verdict. The silence of those purporting to be the political representatives of the Nationalist community is deafening as to why an innocent man had to serve the equivalent of an eight-and-a-half year sentence on remand.
"Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA testing was also shown during the course of the trial to be a wholly discredited technique. Its validity is not recognised in the vast majority of jurisdictions, nor were the English laboratories employed by both the Six and 26-County statelets accredited. Charges proffered against others arising out of LCN DNA 'evidence' must now be withdrawn, and convictions based on it must also be urgently reviewed.
"All cases arising out of the events at Omagh – like so many others – have been based upon falsified and misleading evidence, and backed up by perjurers in both the RUC and the 26-County police. This was summed-up well by the mother of Seán Hoey, Rita: 'The authorities North and South have held two separate trials but one witch-hunt,' Mr. Walsh concluded.
Reacting to the verdict in the trial of South Armagh man Seán Hoey, RSF National Publicity Officer Richard Walsh stated on December 20th that no cases relying on the use of Low Copy DNA should proceed. He also remarked that many politicians had remained silent on the issue of an innocent man spending over four years in gaol.
"The malicious prosecution of Seán Hoey from Jonesboro, Co. Armagh, has again shown that the Brits will stop at no lengths to punish those suspected of opposing English rule in Ireland" he said.
"Seán Hoey was incarcerated for over four years before his final acquittal. Nearly a whole year lapsed between the conclusion of his trial and the verdict. The silence of those purporting to be the political representatives of the Nationalist community is deafening as to why an innocent man had to serve the equivalent of an eight-and-a-half year sentence on remand.
"Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA testing was also shown during the course of the trial to be a wholly discredited technique. Its validity is not recognised in the vast majority of jurisdictions, nor were the English laboratories employed by both the Six and 26-County statelets accredited. Charges proffered against others arising out of LCN DNA 'evidence' must now be withdrawn, and convictions based on it must also be urgently reviewed.
"All cases arising out of the events at Omagh – like so many others – have been based upon falsified and misleading evidence, and backed up by perjurers in both the RUC and the 26-County police. This was summed-up well by the mother of Seán Hoey, Rita: 'The authorities North and South have held two separate trials but one witch-hunt,' Mr. Walsh concluded.