The State has conceded in the High Court that gardai arrested and imprisoned the wrong man on foot of a committal warrant. Yesterday, Mr Justice Shanley ordered that Mr John Carpenter, of Barnamore Park, Finglas South, Dublin, be released from Mountjoy Prison. Mr Bernard Condon, counsel for Mr Carpenter, said his client had already been granted bail by the High Court pending the outcome of his application.
He said Mr Carpenter had been taken into custody on September 5th, while he was walking in Cabra. The warrant, committing a John Carpenter, Carlough Road, Cabra West, Dublin, to six months imprisonment for driving without insurance, had been signed by Judge Delap in the District Court on March 6th. Mr Condon said his client had sworn in evidence he had not been stopped in a car at Station Road, Lusk, on June 23rd, 1996 or at any other date, he had not received any summons alleging he had committed the offence and he had not appeared before Balbriggan District Court in relation to it.
Mr Carpenter said the address on the warrant was not his home address.
Following a brief adjournment, Mr Eanna Molloy, counsel for the State, said he had taken further instructions and the State was conceding that the wrong man had been taken into custody.