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Brown, James

Published:

James Brown was convicted in November 1977 of conspiracy to communicate prohibited information, belonging to a proscribed organisation, and causing grievous bodily harm. Mr Brown received a sentence of ten years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in October 2007.

Following investigation, the CCRC concluded that the manner in which Mr Brown, then aged 16, was detained and interviewed involved significant breaches of the Judges’ Rules and other protections which he should have enjoyed.

This included the failure to ensure the presence of an appropriate adult during his interviews and the failure to allow him access to legal advice.

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

The CCRC referred the conviction in January 2009.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in May 2012.