Ricky Tomlinson’s Seventies Picketing Conviction Overturned

Following allegations of violence throughout this protest, in 1973 Tomlinson was charged with “conspiracy to intimidate” as one of many Shrewsbury Two. Despite pleading his innocence, he was found guilty and sentenced to 2 years in prison, alongside fellow picket Des Warren. After his release in 1975, he disrupted the TUC conference by shouting from the wings after he had been prevented from talking on the stage. In 2012, Tomlinson and others sought to have the convictions overturned by the Criminal Cases Review Commission .

The programme was broadcast midway by way of the trial – at a time when there have been only three TV channels in the UK – and it was also reported in many nationwide newspapers. Trade unionists making an attempt to overturn convictions in a forty seven-12 months-long campaign have informed the Court of Appeal they had been victims of an establishment plot. The Liverpool Echo sends newsletters on a wide range of subjects – together with our day by day news bulletin, now going out thrice a day.

Ricky Tomlinson Clears His Name As A Long Time Old Injustice Overturned In Court Docket

Two dozen commerce unionists who picketed during the 1972 nationwide builders’ strike were charged with offences including illegal assembly, conspiracy to intimidate and affray for picketing. Months after the strike ended, 24 commerce unionists had been arrested and prosecuted for offences including illegal meeting, conspiracy to intimidate, affray and threatening behaviour while picketing. This month, practically 50 years later, the pickets’ lawyers revealed paperwork to the court docket of appeal which they are saying prove the Government of the day was closely concerned in making that programme. Police arrested none of the demonstrators that day – but five months later, amid pressure from constructing business bosses, Tomlinson and others were charged and subsequently convicted of offences including unlawful assembly, intimidation and affray.

“Like me, he was victimised by the court for defending the interests of the working class. Today, the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions of all 14 on the grounds that original witness statements had been destroyed. Six of the 14, including Des Warren, who was jailed for three years, have since died and their appeals had been continued of their name by their relatives. The CCRC stated its decision was primarily based on contemporary evidence arising from a 1973 observe that showed that some unique statements had been destroyed.

Feedback On Ricky Tomlinson And Members Of Shrewsbury 24 Have Nineteen Seventies Picketing Conviction Overturned

The trials had been held in Shrewsbury within the face of giant anger and protests outdoors the court docket. The activists – together with the actor Ricky Tomlinson, earlier than he found fame – insist that there was no intimidation. They even declare that they received the nice needs of the Chief Constable as they got on the coaches which took them back house. Lawyers representing 14 of the Shrewsbury 24, together with The Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, argued that the destruction of authentic witness statements meant their convictions have been unsafe. Mr Tomlinson and his fellow pickets have been convicted of offences including illegal assembly and affray.

• They also claimed the broadcast of a documentary, Red Under The Bed, through the first of three trials in 1973 and 1974 was “deeply prejudicial” as it might have “provoked panic within the mind” of the jury.
• Tomlinson has described it as a “sorry day for British justice” and says they need to ‘never have been standing in the dock’.
• After a sequence of three trials at Shrewsbury crown court docket in Shropshire, they were convicted of sentences starting from three years’ to three months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
• Tomlinson, eighty, stated it was “excellent news” and an opportunity to prove that he and 23 other males – often known as the Shrewsbury 24 – had been prosecuted in what amounted to a politically motivated assault on the trade union motion by the government, police and managers.
• The Liverpool Echo sends newsletters on a variety of topics – together with our every day information bulletin, now going out thrice a day.

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