Republican News · Thursday 23 January 1997

Snap appeal to prevent campaign

By Eoin O'Broin

The family of miscarriage of justice victim Damien Sullivan claim that he has been given an early appeal in order to ``clamp down on our ability to get a public campaign going''.

Speaking to An Phoblacht Annemarie Sullivan, Damien's wife, told of her surprise at the sudden announcement of an appeal date of 10 February. ``We were told last summer that it would be at least June before Damien's case would be up.''

Damien Sullivan and Thomas Fox are serving life sentences for the alleged killing of former RIR soldier, Nigel Smith, in Belfast city centre in May 1994. The two men are appealing on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

Sullivan's conviction was secured on the grounds of video evidence. One of the witnesses at his trial, Professor Vanezis, a prosecution technical expert, was unable to match a video still from the scene of the shooting and a photograph of Damien.

The judge and prosecution agreed that the video was of poor quality, and a number of RUC men were also unable to identify the still. Sullivan's family claim Damien was ``not there at the time and not involved in any way with the incident''.

However, at the trial Lord Chief Justice, Brian Hutton, was persuaded by the RUC that there was enough similarity to send Sullivan to jail for life.

Asked whether she is hopeful of a positive outcome to the appeal, Annemarie gave a cautious response, ``I have no faith in this justice system so I'm not hopeful, but then we have the example of Colin Duffy, so who knows.''

Despite the snap decision on the date, a campaign group has been formed. They plan to hold a number of high profile events over the next three weeks, the first of which will take place at Belfast City Hall on 25 January from 1 to 2pm.

For further information call Belfast (01232) 624167

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