By Michael O'Brien
I met Jeremy in Long Lartin prison between
1989 -1996 and it was so obvious that he did not fit in to prison life. He
stood out for me, and he seemed lost just like I once was when I first went to
prison. I knew something was not right
with his case and believed in his Innocence from the start. It was a gut
feeling I had about him and Jeremy was different to the other prisoners. The
case was the most important thing to him, and proving his innocence was the
main thing on his mind just like it was with me. They say you can spot an
innocent man a mile off and they stick out like a sore thumb—Jeremy was
certainly in that category.
Wrongful convictions have a habit of
leaving the innocent suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder and they may
not even know they are suffering from it. I thought I was ok however experts
soon found out that I was far from ok. Being in prison for a crime you didn’t
commit leaves many scars and it can only be described like a roller coaster
ride. One minute you are angry and you feel you can fight whatever obstacles
are placed in your way, and the next you are in total despair. Depression seeps
into your mind overwhelming you. The only thing I had on my mind 24 hours a day
was to fight the injustice and I lived and breathed the case just like Jeremy
is doing now.
I do not know whether I would have
had the strength that Jeremy has got if I had still been in prison for almost
30 years like he has. However, one thing I do know is that I would have fought
as hard as I could to obtain justice in the same way as Jeremy has done, and he
has to continue fighting until he has been proved innocent because that is
exactly what he is.
When I found out I was going to be
released, I had a lot of anxiety not knowing what to expect in the outside
world and this was after eleven years. Looking at it from Jeremy’s perspective
it would be quite frightening with the way society and the outside world has
changed in the 30 years he has been incarcerated. Fear of the unknown and not
knowing how he will adjust back into society can also be a daunting thought. I
felt this too, and also wondering what reception you are going to get from the
general public. These are just some of the things, which will be going through
Jeremys mind.
We must not lose sight of the fact
due to the injustice that has been laid on Jeremy, he has suffered further by
losing his family: Nevill, June, Sheila, Nicolas and Daniel. He has not been
able to grieve for the loss of his family, as he should have been able to do.
My thoughts are with Jeremy’s family
who lost their lives in tragic circumstances and also with Jeremy who not only
lost his family but also his freedom, which has been stolen from him. I believe a miscarriage of Justice
does not lay doormat, Jeremy’s case is going to rise up and haunt all those who
have taken part in this injustice and the truth will come out.
Michael O’Brien: Author and Motivational Speaker
Michael O’Brien was imprisoned for
eleven years for a crime he didn’t commit—the Cardiff Newsagent Murder. In his
book he revealed all about the police incompetence and scapegoating, which
landed him, an innocent man in prison. It also tells of his tooth and nail
fight through the highest courts, not only to get himself free, but to gain the
highest compensation pay out of its kind.
While in prison Michael lost not only
his freedom but everything he’d ever had, including his wife, his child and
even his health. It has taken him years to rebuild his life. But he did gain
something from his time inside: a self-taught knowledge of Law, and a burning
desire to help others fight for justice.
On his release he joined forces with another
victim of miscarried justice, Paddy Joe Hill, a member of the Birmingham Six.
They set up MOJO (The Miscarriages of Justice Organization) to help others who
were wrongfully imprisoned. Michael recently spoke to James Whale on BBC Radio Essex about Jeremy's innocence. Listen Here.
Michael and his
family have set up the Dylan
O’Brien foundation in memory of his son who died of an undiagnosed
metabolic condition on June 15th 2012. The charity raises awareness
and provides support for children with metabolic genetic diseases.
Michael is the author of two books available on the following links:-
