LAST WEEK Bernie Tohill visited Birmingham. Her son, Bobby, is a victim of the informer system of justice in the North of Ireland. Bernie met Birmingham city and county councillors, trades council represenas meetings. She was particularly well received at the miners support committee, where she Bobby Tohill was arrested in March 1982, accused of conspiracy to murder. Despite constant refused bribery to become another informer, the next tactic of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
was relused Dall pointolank, wife having a nervous breakdown and his son suflene a terma duess.
The third tactic of the RUC was to have him tramed bv an informer caled Goodman. Bobhi went on hunger strike for eight days in protest at Then Goodman retracted his evidence and But the RUC promised to get him out of the way somehow, and they kept their promise. He was rearrested and charged with different offences by a different informer, Harry Kirkpatrick.
mand awalling nis iral wien won t lake place ti The preliminary hearing was abandoned after the judge walked out, saying justice could not be identify the 34 men with a special branch man whispering to him!
When he finally comes to trial, Bobby Tohill's only chance is to break the credibility of informer Kirkpatrick, and force a retraction. If this happens he will go free. If not. he faces a very long sentence from a non-jury court solely on the word of a paid Bobby's case highlights several points. First, usually make him sound convincing when giving evidence.
Thirdly, when all else fails, the 'suspect' is rearrested on the word of another informer. one case of a Kepublican charged under five difThis whole process is justified by Prior as 'the only way to put terrorists away'. Quite apart from the increasingly wide definition of who is a 'terrorist these days, the show trials beg the question of what kind of society needs this kind of 'justice' British labour movement are essential to put the spotigat on me procecags ana report back promised support; and the case has been publicised throughout Ireland and America.
Even Peter Archer, the Labour spokesperson humanitarian grounds at Bobby Tohill's case.
taken up and publicised throughout the Britsh labour movement. This corrupt system of justice, and the corrupt society it supports, must be ended.
maintained his innocence was tutored for six hours a day to MPs Clare Short and Rob Clay have LUNCHIL whole system of show trials needs to be
For a mass, campaigning LPYS 'Jobs for a Change' and the carnival against racism to see the ONE ONLY has to look at the massively successful GLC events like that youth are useful door-knockers but of course, if the LPY