Woman loses legal battle over terror convictions; judges reject her account of ill-treatment

Patricia Wilson alleged that police officers investigating attacks on two shops – a paint shop and a confectionery store – in Belfast constantly punched, slapped and threatened her during interrogation.

But in a majority verdict, judges at the Court of Appeal refused her appeal after rejecting the account of ill-treatment.

Sir Declan Morgan said: “I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that she did not sustain the physical attacks that she alleged in various contradictory ways.”

In 1978 Ms Wilson, 63, was convicted at a non-jury trial on two counts of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or property, and two counts of possessing an explosive substance.

She was also found guilty of carrying a firearm with intent and membership of Irish republican woman’s paramilitary organisation Cumann na mBan.

A ten-year prison sentence was imposed for the offences connected to two separate bombings the previous year.

She had been arrested as a 17-year-old, taken to the RUC’s Castlereagh Holding Centre and interviewed over three days without a lawyer until admissions were made.

Although complaints of being physically assaulted and verbally abused were made to a doctor, no allegations of ill-treatment were raised at her trial.

In 2014 Ms Wilson applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to examine her convictions, but the body decided against referring her case to the Court of Appeal.

Defence lawyers sought an extension of time to mount a further challenge, based on previously undisclosed evidence about the complaints.

The three-judge panel was unable to reach a unanimous conclusion in the case.

Setting out reasons why he would have allowed the appeal, Lord Justice Treacy held that by today’s standards the teenage suspect had been denied measures now thought necessary to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

But Sir Declan, backed by judicial colleague Sir Paul Maguire, described her evidence as “deeply contradictory and unreliable”.

“She now seeks to pursue a challenge to her admissions but has provided no reasonable explanation for her failure to do so at her trial,” he pointed out.

Ms Wilson was refused leave to extend time for an appeal against conviction by a two to one majority.