Goodall, James

James Goodall was convicted at Belfast City Commission in November 1977 for placing a bomb which caused an explosion.

Mr Goodall was 24 years old at the time of the trial but there was information before the court indicating vulnerability

Mr Goodall pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was elsewhere at the material times, and disputing that he had signed a statement presented by the police as his.

He was convicted of causing an explosion and unlawful possession of a firearm and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Mr Goodall tried to appeal his conviction but the appeal was dismissed in March 1978. He applied to the CCRC in September 2009.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that there was a real possibility the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal would find Mr Goodall’s conviction unsafe.

The referral was based on new evidence relating to Mr Goodall’s vulnerability at the time which was such that he should have been (but was not) interviewed with an appropriate adult present and which meant that the Court may conclude his admissions and written confession were unreliable.

The CCRC referred the conviction in May 2015.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in June 2018.