Kentish Town councillor Dave Horan argues the authorities have to take another look at a murder conviction

THE debate on identity cards will no doubt return after passing through further discussions in the House of Lords, coloured by horrific bomb outrages, which are of special concern for Camden as two of them happened in the borough.
Even the home secretary admitted ID cards would not of prevented these horrific incidents. But what of other issues relating to civil liberties? Would ID cards prevent further miscarriages of justice?
Is there even any significant public debate on miscarriages of justice, in the responses to recent government proposals? How many of this publication’s well-informed readership are even aware of details of current miscarriages of justice?
In Camden, numerous people are aware of the Christy McGrath case, where a young jockey with a very promising career in horseracing is serving life for a murder he claims he did not commit. Christy is from Tipperary and was training in County Durham when events five years ago led to his receiving a life sentence for murder.
He has, by his own admission, in a booklet launched in February at the House of Commons and at a reception for Irish parliamentarians in Dublin, recorded that he had been involved in a fracas with the man who was later found dead.
Christy has accepted that he had taken a small amount of ecstasy and had been drinking when on his way home he was threatened and then assaulted by an unknown individual.
This person was later identified as Gary Walton, a former Newcastle United footballer, found dead some hours after the confrontation with Christy McGrath.
Christy claims he was provoked and subjected to anti-Irish racism. There is no forensic evidence to support the conviction. It is based solely on a confession made in highly questionable circumstances.
His campaign has attracted widespread supporters, with 75 Irish politicians expressing concern about an unsafe conviction. Former principal adviser to Camden Council, John McDonnell MP, drafted an early day motion (EDM) in the last parliament which has widespread support from many MPs.
Among the signatories were former Camden councillor Paul Stinchcombe, and ex-Camden estate manager Steve Pound MP, along with former Tory Northern Ireland secretary Peter Bottomley, who also has significant Camden connections.
The Camden connections do not stop there. The life president of the London Tipperary Association and Euston landlord Tom Milne, of Mabel’s Tavern, has been one of Christy’s strongest supporters.
The Irish London press recently reported a benefit for Christy at the Black Horse in Royal College Street, supported by Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn, a strong supporter from the start who has visited Christy in Gartree prison, as have leading Irish senator Labhras O’Murchu and Irish politician Seamus Healy. Both Senator O’Murchu and Mr Healy have spoken in London in support of Christy, and were at the reception for Christy’s family, held in Mabel’s at the booklet launch.
Anyone who has known the warmth and hospitality of a working class Irish family will understand the depth of support in Christy’s home town of Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary.
In June about 70 people packed a Carrick hotel to hear Christy’s supporters and parents. Later that evening, even more people joined, and the part of Carrick where the family lived was alive with enthusiasm for his case with posters of Christy in people’s windows.
Christy, before imprisonment, was being trained by celebrated 2001 Grand National winner Richard Guest, who is also among his supporters, along with journalists, entertainers and sportspeople, as well as human rights campaigners and Irish community groups.
Other supporters include clergy, such as Northern Ireland-based Father Des Wilson and Father Eugene O’Sullivan in Scotland. People who have been victims of miscarriages of justice are also among Christy’s supporters.
John McDonnell is to draft another EDM for the current Parliament, and it is hoped even more MPs will sign it. We hope Christy, who has the same Camden-based solicitor as members of former Camden residents the Guilford Four, does not have to wait 16 years for justice to at last be reached.
I hope New Journal readers will press their MPs to sign the EDM or show their support.
The cross-party nature of this campaign may prove vital, but ordinary people unconnected with politics also have a part to play.
I hope that readers will write to Christy and to Charles Clarke at the Home Office, SW1, asking for the case to be re-opened.
Camden has a long and proud tradition of support for campaigns of this kind, and I look forward to the day when, yet again, the Camden Irish Centre will be host to a celebration of justice for an innocent victim of a flawed legal system.

• Cllr Dave Horan is Labour ward councillor for Kentish Town.