'Double' Miscarriage of Justice Victim Martin Foran Speaks
Martin Foran, 69, an Irish father of five, was convicted of robbery in 1977 - a crime he denies. Within weeks of his release in 1984 he was arrested again and later convicted of robbing a pub in Birmingham.
This second conviction was declared unsafe and quashed by the Court of Appeal in April. Mr Foran, who is terminally ill with cancer, is awaiting a ruling on the earlier case.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) will rule on the 1977 robbery next week. Mr Foran's dying wish is to go to his grave an innocent man.
Read more: Helen Carter BBC News, 15 August 2013
False Abuse Allegations May Increase After New Guidelines
New guidelines to police and CPS are likely to result in more false allegations of abuse
The recent acquittal of former news tycoon Eddie Shah, after being found not guilty of raping a 12 year old girl years ago, demonstrates clearly that despite the bleating of NAPAC, the NSPCC and other so-called 'charities', complainants of 'historic' abuse do not always tell the truth.
Despite new guidelines given to the police and CPS, it follows therefore that these so called 'victims' should NOT automatically be believed but should instead be investigated and have to prove their case with real evidence, even if that means their lives are turned inside out by the police - as will be the case for their alleged abusers.
Without the requirement that REAL proof of abuse must be produced, false allegations are likely to continue to rise in number and claiming, as charities and MPs do, that accusers will not come forward if they have to produce concrete evidence, is no excuse.
It is to be noted that following Shah's acquittal and contrary to what would have been the case had he been convicted, neither the police nor the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were anywhere to be seen - let alone standing on the steps of the court where, instead of claiming victory in their normal, cynical manner, they would have had to apologise to the falsely accused defendant.
Whilst Eddie Shah received justice and is still a free man, it cost him £700,000 to achieve that outcome. Such a sum would be unavailable to most people who would have to rely on legal aid and a sub-standard defence barrister.
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