Paschal John Mulholland

Paschal Mulholland was convicted of membership of a proscribed organisation. He was 16 years old when he was arrested and was interviewed over many hours and not granted access to a solicitor or appropriate adult. He made a written admission but at trial argued this was involuntary and untrue. On appeal, the court found that there had been breaches of the Judges Rules and that this constitutes prima facie grounds for doubting the safety of the conviction. In addition, evidence of mistreatment of another suspect by the officers involved was introduced. The evidence of medical officers in that case was said to be compelling and damning and this evidence almost certainly made the confession inadmissible. On this basis the conviction was found to be unsafe.