Irish People and the British Criminal Justice System

Abstract

On 24 April 1993 a one-ton bomb in a lorry went off in the Bishopgate area of London killing one man and injuring forty others. A few days later there was talk of a new police clamp-down and proposals to cordon off the City of London. Fr. Paddy Smith of the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas accused the police of declaring 'an open season on the Irish'.' Following the bombing, nine Irishmen were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 (PTA) in raids in various parts of London. Six are known to have been released within five days. A tenth John Matthews was detained at Heathrow Airport on 27 April. He was held for seven days and subsequently charged on 4 May with causing an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life. At the first remand hearing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) promised to produce forensic, identification, and other evidence against John Matthews. Three weeks later, in a hastily arranged hearing, the CPS announced that 'in the case of John Matthews, we have reviewed the evidence and have come to the conclusion that there is no reasonable chance of a successful prosecution'. The magistrate, who coincidentally had heard the case on the previous occasion, was evidently surprised at the CPS's decision and agreed with the defence solicitor, Gareth Peirce, that John Matthews was a man of excellent character who left the court 'without a blemish on his character'.3 On release, however, John Matthews was immediately re-arrested and taken to Paddington Green police station while the police sought an exclusion order. This was granted and the next morning he was put on a flight to