The Court of Appeal has formally declared the conviction of Osgur Breatnach for the 1976 Sallins mail train robbery a miscarriage of justice. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy granted the certificate today after confirming that newly discovered alibi evidence, which the Director of Public Prosecutions did not dispute, met the legal threshold for the declaration. Mr Breatnach, now 75, maintains he had no involvement in the robbery.
Background of the Sallins Train Robbery Conviction
On 31 March 1976, a Cork-to-Dublin mail train was diverted near the Kildare town of Sallins, resulting in the theft of an estimated £200,000. Following the incident, several members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party were arrested. Mr Breatnach was convicted by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in December 1978 based on statements signed during interrogations.
During these interrogations, three men signed confessions and later reported injuries they alleged were caused by members of the Heavy Gang, a garda unit whose detention practices were criticized in a 1977 Amnesty International report. Although Mr Breatnach was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed his conviction in May 1980, ruling the confession was obtained under oppression. He had served 18 months in custody by the time of his release. The IRA claimed responsibility for the robbery that same month.
Did You Know?
The conviction of Osgur Breatnach was originally overturned in May 1980 by the Court of Criminal Appeal on the grounds that his confession was coerced under oppression.
Calls for a Public Inquiry
Following today’s ruling, Mr Breatnach requested that the Government establish an independent public inquiry. He alleged that his original conviction was secured through coerced confessions and perjury by 50+ gardaí who testified at the Special Criminal Court. He stated that the state’s actions resulted in systemic injustice, long-term health damage, and reputational harm.
A coalition of human rights groups, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Amnesty International Ireland, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Fair Trials, and the Pat Finucane Centre, has supported the campaign for the six men known as the Sallins Men. ICCL Executive Director Joe O’Brien stated that while the miscarriage of justice is now recognized, the Government continues to refuse to investigate the circumstances of the case. O’Brien noted that the Minister for Justice has previously declined to establish a Commission of Investigation, arguing that the case is historic and lacks sufficient public concern to warrant reopening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated that the declaration is based on newly discovered alibi evidence that was not disputed by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Breatnach contends that his original conviction was the result of coerced confessions and perjury by gardaí, leading to systemic injustice and personal harm, which he argues warrants a formal inquiry under constitutional and international conventions.
What is the Government’s current position on an inquiry?
According to the ICCL, the Minister for Justice has informed the advocacy groups that the case is historic and does not present a matter of significant public concern that would justify establishing a Commission of Investigation.
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