Laide family alleges miscarriage of justice as 'truth was not told'

Families' reactions:   The father of Dermot Laide has claimed that his son was a victim of a "serious miscarriage of justice…

Families' reactions:  The father of Dermot Laide has claimed that his son was a victim of a "serious miscarriage of justice".

He also accused some of the 103 witnesses in his son's trial of perjury.

The claim came as the parents of Brian Murphy said that nobody should forget that their son was savagely kicked to death.

Speaking outside Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Brian Laide claimed that some witnesses had told lies in court. "Our son told the truth - it's evident from the trial process that many witnesses did not tell the truth. To those people who perjured themselves in court, I wonder how you can seriously live with your conscience."

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His son had a clear conscience, according to Mr Laide.

He also expressed sympathy with the Murphy family, but said that, like them, his family was also seeking the truth. "I want to clearly state at this point that this is not the end. The Murphy family have asked for the truth and they did not receive it. We are now asking for the truth and the truth must win out in the end."

The parents of Brian Murphy also addressed journalists outside the court building following the sentencing hearing.

Mr Denis Murphy said he "hugely respected" the manner in which Judge White conducted the trial. However, he said he and his family needed "some time to absorb the impact of the sentences" but that "no-one should forget that our son Brian was savagely kicked and beaten to death and will not be coming back to us.

"With the sentences handed down today, those convicted in connection with Brian's death will be back with their families in a relatively short period of time."

Labour politician, Mr Nicky Kelly, a friend of the Laide family, said he believed the case against Brian Laide was "seriously flawed, and raises a lot of questions".

Mr Kelly received a full presidential pardon in 1993, and substantial damages, following his wrongful conviction for the 1976 Sallins mail train robbery.

"I think that the trial itself posed more questions than it answered," said Mr Kelly, who is a councillor in Arklow, where the Laides used to live.

Statement: Murphy family - Made by Mr Denis Murphy, outside the court: "We hugely respect Mr Justice White for the manner in which he conducted the trial and the decisions which he made.

However we need some time to absorb the impact of the sentences which he handed down today. After all no-one, and no-one, should forget that our son Brian was savagely kicked and beaten to death and will not be coming back to us.

With the sentences handed down today, those convicted in connection with Brian's death will be back with their families in a relatively short period of time."

Statement: Laide family - Made by Mr Brian Laide, outside the court: "First and foremost we offer our most sincere and deepest sympathies to the Murphy family.

I would like to, on behalf of my son Dermot and my family, to sincerely thank the thousands of people from all over Ireland who took time to write, text, phone us with heart-felt messages of support and helped to carry us through this, a most difficult time.

We would also like to put on record that Dermot has been the victim of a serious, serious miscarriage of justice.

Our son told the truth - it's evident from the trial process that many witnesses did not tell the truth. To those people who perjured themselves in court, I wonder how you can seriously live with your conscience.

My son's conscience is clear. I want to clearly state at this point that this is not the end. The Murphy family have asked for the truth and they did not receive it. We are now asking for the truth and the truth must win out in the end.

Unfortunately I could say an awful lot more but at this point I cannot do so, so I would respectfully ask you to leave my family and I in peace, and nobody will be speaking on my behalf."