Hugh Hanna

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Hugh Hanna was convicted of murder and possession of firearms, relating to murder on behalf of a loyalist parliamentary gang. Hanna’s co-defendant, aged 14 at the time, was interviewed 11 times in three days and was denied the support of his parents or a solicitor until the seventh interview, when his father was present as he confessed. Hanna made a written statement confessing to having been involved in the murder. He claimed he had not had access to a lawyer and was denied medication and medical help. On appeal, Hanna’s co-defendant claimed he had lied when he implicated Hanna. A report was introduced that noted contradictions in the versions of events given by Hanna and his co-defendant and inconsistencies between their accounts and forensic evidence obtained at the scene. The report also noted that sensitive information tending to exclupate Hanna and his co-defendnt (suggesting they were not involved with the organisation the murder was believed to have been carried out on behalf of) was not disclosed to the defence. In addition, evidence was introduced from an educational psychologist who expressed concern the co-defendant’s ability to deal with a complex situation and questioning without adult help. A consultant psychologist found Hanna himself was abnormally suggestible. Having regard to all of the evidence available, the court concluded that they could not regard the convictions of Hanna and his co-defendant as safe, and quashed the convictions. Hanna committed suicide shortly before his conviction was quashed.

View Press (www.irishcentral.com)

View Press (www.theguardian.com)

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