Fitzpatrick, Joseph

Joseph Fitzpatrick was convicted in November 1977 of arson, membership of a proscribed organisation, and conspiracy to communicate information with respect to members of Her Majesty’s forces which was of such a nature as was likely to be useful to terrorists.

Mr Fitzpatrick received a sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in March 2005.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that there had been breaches of modern standards of fairness in the case.

The manner in which Mr Fitzpatrick was detained and interviewed involved significant breaches of the Judges’ Rules and other protections which Mr Fitzpatrick, aged 16 at the time of his arrest, should have enjoyed.

This included the failure to provide Mr Fitzpatrick with access to legal advice or an appropriate adult.

The CCRC considered that in consequence of these breaches, admissions to guilt made by Mr Fitzpatrick were unreliable and/or inadmissible.

The CCRC referred the conviction in September 2008.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in May 2009.