Osgur Breatnach granted miscarriage of justice certificate over Sallins train robbery

Dublin's Court of Appeal has unanimously declared that the wrongful conviction of Osgur Breatnach for the 1976 Sallins train robbery constituted a miscarriage of justice. A three-judge panel granted the official certificate, formally confirming that he had no involvement in the crime nearly five decades after the event.

The ruling follows decades of campaigning after Breatnach's initial release. Writing after the decision, his brother Caoilte Breatnach detailed the severe psychological strain and harsh conditions they faced while held in police custody following their original arrests. The Court of Appeal's unanimous judgment provides final legal recognition of the injustice suffered, marking a definitive end to one of Ireland's longest-running legal battles concerning wrongful conviction.

Sources: The Irish Times.