The State has objected to two claims by Mr Peter Pringle for compensation arising out of his wrongful conviction for the murder of a garda. Mr Pringle served 15 years in prison before his conviction was quashed.
In the High Court yesterday the State claimed Mr Pringle had issued two claims for compensation and objected to this. Mr Pringle's lawyers denied there were two sets of proceedings. Mr Justice O'Donovan will decide on Tuesday on the objection.
Mr Pringle was originally sentenced to death for the murder of Garda Henry Byrne following a bank robbery at Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, on July 7th, 1980. The sentence was later commuted to 40 years' life imprisonment.
Yesterday Mr Edward Comyn SC, for the State, said Mr Pringle had filed a notice of appeal under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1993, based on a newly discovered fact, not appreciated or known at the time of his trial.
The Court of Criminal Appeal had quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial, but there was a difficulty about witnesses for the retrial and the DPP had entered a nolle prosequi. It meant the criminal proceedings were over.
In 1995 Mr Pringle had applied under Section 9 of the 1993 Act seeking compensation. He issued separate proceedings seeking a jury to decide his claim. In both sets of proceedings, damages were sought.
In 1997 the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected Mr Pringle's application under Section 9. The matter went to the Supreme Court which decided Mr Pringle should be allowed to renew his application to the Court of Criminal Appeal for a certificate claiming compensation.
Mr Comyn said it would be oppressive if Mr Pringle was allowed two sets of proceedings. However, Mr Barry White SC, for Mr Pringle, denied his client had two sets of proceedings seeking compensation.