Seán Power
Ceist:48 Mr. Power asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the communications, if any, he has received on behalf of the Bridgewater Four; and the action, if any, he intends to take in this respect. [8831/96]
Written Answers. - Bridgewater Four.
Of the four people now known as the Bridgewater Four three were convicted in 1979 of the murder and one, Mr. Pat Molloy, and Irish citizen, was convicted of the manslaughter of 13 year-old Carl Bridgewater in Staffordshire, England, in 1978. Mr. Molloy died in prison in 1981. The four men have always claimed to be innocent. The Home Secretary referred their cases to the Court of Appeal which dismissed them in 1989.
Relatives and friends of the convicted men claim that new evidence, justifying a further referral to the Court of Appeal, has since emerged. Representations have been made to the Irish Government seeking assistance in clearing Mr. Molloy's name. The embassy in London has written to the Home Office regarding Mr. Molloy's conviction and will remain in contact with the Molloy family.