Crown argues for secrecy in Danny Morrison appeal
Friday November 14 2008
In Belfast, lawyers for the British State have asked the Appeal Court not to reveal the reasons why a former leading Sinn Fein member's conviction was overturned.
A crown lawyer said the reasons why the convictions of Danny Morrison and seven others were overturned should remain secret in the interests of justice and national security.
Mr Morrison and seven co-defendants had been convicted in 1982 of falsely imprisoning an IRA informer.
Mr Morrison always maintained he had been requested only to prepare the informer to admit his role at a Sinn Fein press conference.
The eight defendants were convicted and served over five years in jail.
Last month, those convictions were all overturned, with the Appeal Court saying it saw no reason for secrecy.
Today, however, the crown said not only should those reasons remain confidential, but the reasons why should also, excluding even the defendant's legal team, which says this will be strenuously challenged if the Appeal Court upholds it.
