Published: Friday, 16th July, 2010 9:30am
MATT'S BID FOR FREEDOM
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Battle for freedom ... Matt George
Jailed Largs man Matt George has commenced his make-or-break appeal at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Last Tuesday, the former teacher of Kerelaw Residential School in Stevenston began his bid for freedom after years of protesting his innocence.
Back in 2006, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for physical and sexual abuses against pupils, but now hopes to show the court new evidence that will allow him to permanently return to family life in Rosebank Gardens, Largs.
Speaking this week, Mr George - who has been granted interim bail in recent times - stated his belief that the appeal was "going reasonably well" after he gave evidence under oath on Friday.
Members of his family were expected to do likewise this week, and the grandfather-of-four said: "We've got a second chance at this."
Former Kerelaw pupil and long-term supporter of Mr George, Craig Diver also expressed tentative hopes over the appeal and told the 'News': "The Judge in the chair has been referring to Kerelaw as a List D School and not 'a home' as was described in the original trial. He also recognised that delinquent boys were sent there by the Children's Panel.
"Simon Di Rollo QC for Matt has been very, very good. He's been going over point by point. We have been able to see where a police officer has deliberately inhibited Matt and his legal team from getting relevant documents.
"We've also seen many failings by his original team to call vital witnesses and to obtain vital materials, such as records, which would go a long way to proving his innocence."
Have your say. .
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Free Matt George
Unregistered User
Jul 16 10 14:47
Comment: 12451
Good Luck, Matt.
The sooner justice is served and you are freed, the sooner the powers that be can get on with nailing the despicable scumbag(s) who was instrumental in this travesty of justice.
The only dodgy thing ever about Matt was his tash. You're a fine man, sir and you have been horribly wronged.
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anonymous
Unregistered User
Jul 17 10 15:51
Comment: 12475
Matt, wife Yvonne, daughters Lisa and Mida, sons-in-law Robert and Chris are all to be congratulated for "staying the course", since Matt's trial and sentence in June 2006, and remaining united in fighting this gross injustice. The tide is now turning in Matt's favour, slowly but surely ... but at a considerable cost to Matt and his family.
Whilst not wishing to prejudice the outcome of the appeal hearing in any way, I witnessed some of the evidence being presented before the three Law Lords this week (2nd week of appeal hearing), and I can only come to one conclusion: The operation initiated by Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Police against Matt and former Kerelaw staff was so biassed and "loaded" to be, quite frankly, unbelievable, in this day and age. Matt's original defence team let him down badly - this has been thoroughly and comprehensively exposed by Matt's present QC Simon Di Rollo.
Getting access to key documents at the time of the original trial was referred to as a process characterised by "obstructiveness" - or as was admitted this week, the document holders presenting with an attitude that was described as both "sinister" and "unhealthy". Other sources of important background information which would have been helpful to Matt's cause, were not pursued by his original defence team. This is inexcusable - a gross dereliction of duty of care to their client.
There was much debate during this appeal hearing about the signing of a "Joint Minute of Agreement" at the original trial. This seems to have proceeded, as far as I could make out, without proper "due process" being adhered to, resulting in significant "mis-information" on key dates and documentation being presented at the original trial, and not challenged by the defence. Key defence witnesses not being called ... this to me smacks of a complete abrogation of duty by Matt's defence team.
The complete lack of witness corroboration relating to charges faced by Matt (and co-accused John Muldoon), again highlights the dangers in falling back on, and being completely dependent on, the now discredited Moorov Doctrine, in such cases (where complainers are so well known to each other and collusion can take place). I hope this will be commented upon in the Law Lords' much awaited "Opinion".
In my opinion the original conviction against Matt cannot remain. A significant element of doubt has now been introduced at this appeal hearing: this conviction must now be considered "unsafe", as the original evidence as presented by the Crown does not meet the legal criteria of meeting the key test of being proved "beyond all reasonable doubt".
Matt has been on interim liberation since December 2007, having already served one year and nine months in penal custody. Matt's many supporters now wish to help him and his family draw a line under this nightmarish experience, and sincerely hope that he will soon have an outcome from the Law Lords which will permit of this to happen. Waiting another few weeks will prolong the agony, but will in my view be well worthwhile. Not only has Matt been on trial ... the process of criminal justice and fairness in our Scottish Courts is on trial.
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lennybhoy
Unregistered User
Jul 19 10 23:17
Comment: 12508
The best of luck to Matt and his family in attempting to put an evil wrong right to the Court Of Appeal. He's an innocent man along the way and will continue to be so from now until the end of Kingdom Come.
The whole thing has been a stitch up involving the powers of Glasgow City, Strathclyde Police and its press mouth piece, The Sunday Mail.
The agony of waiting will be torture at the moment for the George family, but at the end of the day I believe it will clear Mr George and other teachers and care workers who have accused of such slanderous and unfounded allegations, just for those accusers to make a quick financial buck. The same ones being those who I suspect haven't done a proper day's work in their entire lives and claim excessively off the Welfare State.
Just keeping Matt for all right minded and coherent people here in Largs support you 150% along the way and will continue to do so when you become an innocent man.
That day is one that we will fully rejoice.
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lennybhoy
Unregistered User
Jul 20 10 00:15
Comment: 12509
Sorry I made a couple grammer mistakes.
I meant to say Glasgow City Council, and in near the end, Just keeping fighting Matt.
Apologies for the errors and again the best of luck to you Matt. We're all behind you.
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bagpuss
Unregistered User
Jul 24 10 18:12
Comment: 12615
I feel I must put this information into public circulation:
Around mid 2004, I was employed within the Residential School setting, I worked with Scotland's most violent teenager at that time ( a label he justly deserved ) he was accused of raping and stabbing a child, I was concerned at the lack of supervision and leisure activities he was able to access when he was supposed to be under close supervision, often being accompanied within the community by a young inexperienced female Social Work Student, I raised my concerns with my employer with little or no action being taken.
I decided it was in the public interest to report this to the Care Commission and circulate my concerns through the Press. This led to me meeting an Investagative Journalist who worked for a well known Sunday Tabloid, I reported all my concerns and several stories were printed in a number of Sunday Papers, the Young Person concerned was quickly withdrawn from circulation and his supervision appropriately increased, however I think all to late. Further young people have been terribly injured by this young man, who is currently in custody.
During my conversation with the Journalist it became very apparent that really what they were interested in was stories of sexual abuse within the residential setting that I worked at that time, I could not help in this matter as I had not or have ever heard seen or been suspicious of this type of behaviour at any time during my 14 years within the Residential settings that I have worked.
I think what really is concerning me at this time, was the offer of legal representation or at least to be put in touch with a Mr Graeme Robertson Advocate, who was a friend of this Journalist, it was explained should I wish to disclose any child sex abuse he would protect /represent me, further explanation was that he had lots of experience and was the right person to 'out' these kind of abusers, he was an ex cop around mid fifties at that time and now an Advocate should I choose to disclose any information.
My information is an accurate recollection of events, this being the case I feel it my duty put this information into the public domain, I am troubled that Mathew George may have been represented by someone who's motives may be in question. I hope that someone from the legal proffesion can show the George family a way forward using this information to at least examine exactly what or was not done by his legal representative in his defence of Mathew George. I will make my identification known to someone from the Largs and Millport news.
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anonymous
Unregistered User
Jul 24 10 21:57
Comment: 12616
Natural Justice -
“… it is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance, that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done."
Re 2nd Comment above in response to this article in the "Largs and Millport", there is now substantive contradictory evidence forthcoming from no less noteworthy a source than the High Court of Judiciary, re on-going litigation against Glasgow City Council by two ex Kerelaw pupils, now seeking financial compensation for alleged abuse whilst they were pupils resident at Kerelaw. Pupils are referred to as C.G. and M.W. in an "Opinion" from three distinguished Law Lords, now published in the Scottish Courts, High Court of Judiciary, "50 Most Recent Decisions", sitting on 23rd July (last Friday):
This "Opinion" can be accessed on web site www.scottishcourts.gov.uk
Para one reads as follows:
"23 July 2010, High Court of Judiciary, Edinburgh
[1] The pursuer (MW) and respondent in this action seeks reparation from the defenders and reclaimers in respect of certain wrongs which she avers were done to her while she was resident in Kerelaw Residential School for a period which ended in October 1996. According to the pursuer, who was born in March 1981, she was sent to Kerelaw in 1991 when she was ten years of age. For their part the defenders aver that she was resident in the school from March 1994. Whichever be the correct date of admission to the school, it is accepted that it was administered and operated by the defenders or their statutory predecessors, Strathclyde Regional Council."
My Comment: Was MW admitted to Kerelaw in 1991 or March 1994? Why do we have such considerable chronological disparity in admission dates? Records are held by SW dept offices and by the Reporter to the Children's Hearing (or Secretary of State for admissions of children directed by sentences from the courts), if school records have mysteriously disappeared (as Matt discovered to his extreme detriment).
This is the very information which now forms a significant plank in Matt's appeal. The "Joint Minute of Agreement" which seems to have been signed off by Matt's defence at his original trial diet, was not allegedly discussed/agreed by Matt. Is it relevant now to note that Matt's QC was Advocate George Robertson (see previous comment).
The admission date of pupil MW assumes greater significance when one reads further down the Law Lords' Opinion, in para 7 -
"[7] If one leaves aside those particular, doubtful averments and looks to the averments of actual physical abuse, in article V of condescendence the pursuer avers that, shortly after she arrived at Kerelaw, on an occasion after she had been returned to the school following her having absconded she was instructed to take a bath, which she refused to do. She then avers that a named male member of staff "and two women members of staff dragged the pursuer to the bathroom, stripped her to her pants and put her in the bath". ...
Please note the phrase "... shortly after she arrived at Kerelaw ...". May I enquire if this would be in 1991 or perhaps March 1994?
I repeat:
“… it is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance, that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done."
I expect the honourable Law Lords now considering Matt's appeal will have noted these monumental discrepancies in record keeping relating to admission/discharge dates of pupils at Kerelaw School, and will find that his conviction is therefore "unsafe".
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anonymous
Unregistered User
Jul 25 10 10:57
Comment: 12620
Natural Justice
The previous comment asumes greater significance in the knowledge that pupil MW had many previous "looked after" in care placements prior to her placement at Kerelaw. An immediate placement prior to Kerelaw, as a matter of record, was in another residential school. The question therefore of an admission date to Kerelaw being in 1991 (as MW claims)or March 1994 (as Glasgow CC claim) should be immediately clarified beyond any element of doubt whatsoever, given in particular that MW alleges she was "abused" ..." shortly after she arrived in Kerelaw" in her statement, in 1991 (Law Lords' Opinion, para 7).
If, as MW claims, this was in 1991, then it can be proved "beyond all reasonable doubt" by checking statutory records, that this could not have happened at Kerelaw (where she was admitted in March 1994, according to Glasgow CC).
From the very beginning of police and social work investigations, there appears to me that there has been total acceptance of all information relating to admision and discharge dates of children and young people to Kerelaw School, and no critical examination or questioning of this information, resulting only now in clear examples of erroneous information having been presented to the Court. Matt's appeal QC Simon Di Rollo has used this as a major argument in support of his appeal.
If wrong information is repeated, at some point in time this should be corrected, given the serious consequences for Matt (and John).
“… it is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance, that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done."
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bagpuss
Unregistered User
Jul 25 10 18:17
Comment: 12628
My understanding as to Mathew Georges Advocate's name is 'Graeme Robertson' and not George as previousley described in 2 previous comments, I attended Court on the day that this man appeared to give evidence and treat with the utmost concern his continuous 'I , I dont remember' .
oh really!
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anonymous
Unregistered User
Jul 25 10 23:33
Comment: 12636
Hi
Thanks for pointing out my (deliberate) mistake - is this really the same Graems Robertson?
You're kidding! Matt really has a cause for complaint and grievance.
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Mcbamm
Unregistered User
Jul 26 10 07:06
Comment: 12638
Having spoken to Matt over the weekend, he seems confident because of new information wich he has, that he did not at his trial. As pointed out above and from my own experience Glasgow council and the social work department will go to great lengths to make them selfs look good in the media, because of all the bad press they get i.e. Baby P, even the head of that social work team had the cheek to challenge her dismissal...im a biulder if i dont do a good job i get sacked(which has never happened) Matt tells me he will get a decision sept/october......Fingers crossed that the system gets it right this time and rather than a few low lifes getting compensation Matt will have his good name restored and maybe even some comensation himself....i hope a lot of compensation for what he and his family have gone through.
Im looking forward to a right good party when its all over :-)
Mcbamm
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