ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 22, 1997 TAG: 9702240038
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LONDON
SOURCE: Associated Press
AFTER SERVING 18 YEARS in prison for convictions police apparently won with a false confession, three men were released Friday. A fourth had died behind bars.
Three men jailed 18 years for the murder of a newspaper boy walked free on Friday, laughing and crying, when prosecutors acknowledged police probably faked a confession.
The case was the latest of several in recent years that have been mishandled or manipulated, leaving many Britons disillusioned with their widely admired justice system. It is, some have said, a miscarriage of justice that was made possible by a system that does not question police.
The men's triumphant release led Friday's news broadcasts. The Guardian newspaper proclaimed: ``Justice: 18 years too late.'
Supporters cheered Michael Hickey, 35, his cousin, Vincent Hickey, 42, and James Robinson, 63, when they walked out of the Appeal Court.
``It's the best feeling in the world,'' Vincent Hickey said.
Throughout their 18 years in prison, the men had professed their innocence in the 1978 killing of Carl Bridgewater. The 13-year-old had been delivering newspapers when he apparently stumbled across armed burglars at a farmhouse. He was shot at close range in the forehead.
The three men were convicted largely on the confession of a fourth man, Patrick Molloy, who later retracted his confession with the explanation that it was given in revenge. Police had confronted him with a written admission they said came from Vincent Hickey.
On Friday, defense lawyers told the packed court that tests showed the Hickey confession was forged by one policeman and signed by another in the West Midland County police force. State prosecutors acknowledged Friday that the convictions were ``fundamentally flawed.''
Three appeals court judges ordered the men's immediate release, pending a final ruling. A full hearing is scheduled for April8.
``In the circumstances which have arisen it would be wrong for the applicants to remain in prison for these offenses while awaiting a hearing,'' Lord Justice John Roch said.
The four men had been arrested soon after Carl's murder in connection with another armed burglary at a nearby farmhouse. Michael Hickey and Robinson also were convicted in that burglary.
Vincent Hickey and Robinson, both with previous criminal records, were sentenced to at least 25 years and Michael Hickey got an indefinite sentence.
Molloy, a five-time convicted burglar, had received a 12-year term for manslaughter. He died of a heart attack in jail in 1981.
Politicians and civil rights groups have pressed for an inquiry into the police's handling of the case - particularly because scientific evidence showing that Molloy didn't write the confession was available seven years ago.
Prime Minister John Major said an inquiry probably will be conducted after the full Appeal Court hearing.
``I am very angry,'' Robinson said Friday. ``The evidence [of fabrication] has always been there and been conveniently sat on.''
Michael Hickey's mother, Ann Whelan, demanded retribution.
``I want the police officers that behaved badly to go to prison and match year by year, day by day, minute by minute and second by second of what they have done to my son,'' she said.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. James Robinson (left), and cousins Vincent andby CNBMichael Hickey celebrate their freedom Friday at a London news
conference after their release from prison.