Sinn Fein today said it could make no initial comment on reports that up to 
300 senior republicans may attempt to sue the British Government for 
wrongful imprisonment and have convictions for IRA membership overturned.


The Guardian newspaper today said it has learned that some former inmates 
from the Maze and other jails have consulted lawyers and prisoners groups on 
how their convictions could be quashed.

The move could come if the Court of Appeal clears former Sinn Fein director 
of publicity Danny Morrison over his conviction for the false imprisonment 
of IRA informer Sandy Lynch in 1990.

Mr Morrison, who was not immediately available for comment today, would then 
be in line for compensation.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission recommended that the case of the man 
who coined the phrase of the twinned 'ballot box and Armalite strategy' 
should go back to the Court of Appeal.

The Guardian said it has been told at least 300 former prisoners, the 
overwhelming majority of them held on IRA wings of the H-blocks in the Maze, 
are now planning to use Morrison's case as a precedent.

And it quoted sources linked to the truth and reconciliation process 
claiming the prisoners include a number who signed statements admitting to 
crimes while allegedly being tortured or threatened in custody, as well as a 
number convicted on 'technicalities'.

Coiste na n-Iarchimi, a republican prisoners' lobby group, said it was aware 
that many former inmates wanted to have their records wiped.

Director Michael Culbert said: "Prisoners can't get jobs because of their 
convictions, or even insurance or loans.

"In some cases they can't get into countries like the US, Canada or 
Australia. So if they can wipe their record clean by proving that the 
convictions against them were unjust and flawed, why not?"



What absolute bollocks, i think we should put tea towels on their heads and 
some false beards and we could send them to guantanomo bay for a holiday LOL