The appeals are being heard in the Royal CourtTHE two men convicted of sex attacks on children have claimed that the ‘media frenzy’ surrounding the historical abuse inquiry meant that they did not get fair trials.
The two launched their appeals against their convictions and sentences in the Royal Court yesterday.
Claude James Donnelly and Gordon Claude Wateridge were both give prison sentences last year as part of the high-profile inquiry. But defence Advocate Mike Preston, who represented both men at their trials, claimed that the juries were so affected by the investigation that they would have convicted the men regardless.
Wateridge (78) was convicted in August of 11 counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault. He was sentenced to two years in prison. He was too ill to attend yesterday’s hearing in the Old Library after suffering a stroke on Monday.
Donnelly did appear, flanked by two prison officers. The 69-year-old looked gaunt and tired. He is serving 15 years in jail after he was convicted in June of five counts of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and one count of procuring an act of gross indecency.
Article posted on 20th January, 2010 - 2.59pm
Sex attack offenders ‘did not get fair trials’