Iain’s Blog

It’s late on in the evening the day of our first visit to the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) in London. What a day. Yet another part of the longest rollercoaster ride I have ever been on highs and lows in equal measure, sometimes you feel sick others elated.

I hadn’t been to the Royal Courts for a while, I actually saw some of the people I had worked with which was nice and I had a bit of time to appreciate the building. It’s a fantastic piece of Victorian craftsmanship (rather than crafty individuals - more of them later). Watching people walking around they didn’t seem to take it all in, I guess you don’t if your there on a regular basis. But from the War Memorial, still with its poppies on, to the windows controlled by cord and the hidden courtyards the detail is fantastic.

We just don’t do that sort of workmanship nowadays, mind you we don’t make much in this country now, but that’s another story.

Back to the Rollercoaster of injustice. It actually was a good day today; firstly the judges didn’t throw the case out so there must be some concern. They also allowed us to get in a QC (Queens Counsel) and to get Medical experts to counter the CPS gaggle from the trial.

We also announced that an expert has come forward and donated his services free as they feel there was another cause of Maeve’s untimely death.

It is funny that certain experts are now looking to stand down from these sorts of cases…but if you believe that what you are talking about is fact why step down. Maybe it’s because they will be knocked down from their pedestals? Who knows?

It was interesting to hear the CPS say that they covered everything, not quite how the ‘team’ here remembered it, I give up on the truth, whole truth and nothing but…I really do. It’s just whatever they can get away with.

I was also interested in the desire of the CPS not to waste public money on getting too many experts HA! After the seeming admission from the Persecution that they had doubled up first time round (yes really worried about the public purse - the purse strings should tighten on these rogues and witch hunters as they try and pilfer).

I can’t believe the CPS and Thames Valley Police Major Investigation Team are continuing the abuse of my family, especially the damage done to my boys. I am truly not sure how they can live with it, its no doubt because they don’t think about it…just a job…just doing my job…NOT good enough folks. You seem to be taking it too personally, not wanting to lose face, lose your ‘case.’ You’re wrong, I know some of you know your wrong stand up and say it! Otherwise you will have to live with it.

I did detect and I maybe wrong that there seems to be a desire form the Court of Appeal to end these cases as there was another case in there with some similar issues they wanted to deal with at the same time. So along with Canada and parts of the USA, the UK is starting to look seriously at the ‘World is flat brigade.’

These experts strike me as being the sort who would say a ship is unsinkable … but when you look down from an aircraft flying over the sea lanes of the world, you will often see ships ploughing their way across the sea and even though they are made of steel against the sheer size of the sea they (the ships) are mere blips on its surface, and some blips disappear off the radar. They can sink and do sink.

The GMC could have quite a few cases to deal with from our case alone. But that can come later.

Right, time for audience participation.

This came up in court today, what is a short fall?

Now think about it, as apparently according to the Prosecution a short fall is apparently from a higher height…..hmmm…….its that me or is that possibly wrong? But hey what do I know!

Anyway ….onwards. I know we have a short sentence but we found out we won’t be back to the Royal Courts until November just under a year from when Keran was sentenced. Again I appreciate we have actually got here very quickly in legal terms, a sprint you could argue. As there are many who wait to get into court AFTER being released from Prison. They truly have my empathy; I admire the way they keep going.

I had to tell the boys it looks like it will be another Christmas without their Mum. It’s not easy trying to keep family life going but 6 months gone we will get through with all the fantastic support. It was so nice Keran got to speak to members of the committee and the fund-raising teams last week to physically say thank you. We really do appreciate all their hours of hard work and all of you who keep in touch.

I am not a pessimist and you could if you wanted to view today’s hearing as like winning tickets for a cruise …….on the Titanic setting off in over 3 1/2 year’s! But I am much more optimistic the wheels are turning slowly but they are turning, it’s just a shame they may not sort out this mess until Keran virtually walks out of prison. An hour longer in prison when you haven’t done anything is just blatantly wrong but we just don’t seem to be able to clear up the mess quickly. So the bad smell lingers…

Just heard on the news that the UN has finally got into Burma, 2 weeks since the cyclone hit. So wrongs can be righted but how much suffering has gone on in the mean time. We are hoping to do a sponsored walk with the Scouts to raise funds for Burma. So if anyone wants to sponsor or help let us know.

As I sit and type another story made my ears pricked up at the words from a Government Minister about experts. But it was the story of the RAF’s Nimrod’s being safe for service. Apparently the Minister has had experts say the plane is safe to fly in…Hmmm.

I wonder if the government would fly into or over combat zones in 37 year old aircraft, whose design dates back approaching 50 years (or so)?

Mind you maybe this Government won’t have to worry about it too long. It looks like people are starting to have had enough. I know I have, I thought the prices on certain petrol stations the other day was the England V New Zealand cricket test scores.

The Attorney General has said she isn’t doing an investigation by the way, maybe they are all waiting till we win and then promise sweeping changes….after the event of course….still not heard back from a certain Junior Minister either. Well not directly anyway.

As I have mentioned before though this is the Government that got rid of 200 Police Officers and Support staff, an entire force and turned some officers into PCSOs. Maybe its time they go, the Government not the PCSOs, we should change them around (the MP’s) more often that way we could keep the people who fit kitchens in business!

Thank God for the Freedom of Information Act!

Finally as I sat with Jonno Ross (he allows me to call him that - we go way back) on TV. I heard a song I hadn’t heard until the other week, the new song ‘Pretty amazing Grace’ from Neil Diamond. I heard it at Sue Belchers funeral, a young woman taken from us far too quickly, who did so much for others. She will be sadly missed by all that knew her. If I got a quarter of the people at my funeral service I would be impressed.

Sadly though it wasn’t the only loss of a 37 year old I heard off recently. A friend recently lost a close relative who had selfishly jumped into a weir to save someone from drowning, thankfully the woman got out, but sadly the rescuer didn’t get out. All our thoughts are with your family at this side time. To risk ones life for others has to be in my book the noblest thing you can do. You should feel some pride as well as your obvious sadness.

It has made me realise (again) today that you should be grateful for what you have and even though we won’t ever get the last few years of our life back we will go on and grow and the more pain we go through just makes me more determined. Thank you all for being there.

Stay safe

Hi,

Not long got back from the Royal Courts of Justice for the Directions hearing.

It was a huge step in the right direction, firstly, as it wasn’t thrown out!

We were granted funding for a QC and we can get nearly half a dozen experts to assist.

The most importantl thing though is that an expert has come forward and volunteered his professional opinion that actually something else may have caused little Maeve’s untimely death.

This is not only good news for our fight to free Keran, but it may also help to find out what really happened to Maeve.

The only down side was we have to wait until November and then into January 2009. Which means Keran will be nearly out having served her sentence!

We will need to tighten our belts again and knuckle down to more work fighting these injustices.

It was nice to be back at the Royal Courts having done some work there and I actually saw some of the staff I had worked with. It is such a lovely building and if you like Victorian architecture it’s worth a visit. I got the feeling though that people working here had got used to it.

Back to the case though, it is upsetting to think of her an innocent woman and our two sons not being together for another Christmas and all the other family events etc., but we will keep fighting. The tunnel team report good progress on Plan B, but the estimated completion date is 2012!! (about ten past eight).

I know it sounds like I whinge that it takes so long, but in reality I am fully aware of how in legal terms how quick it has been for us. Some people are actually out of prison and still waiting to get a directions hearing to start clearing their names!

Every minute she is away is a minute more of shame on ‘experts’ like Risdon, Elsdon, Richards, Stoodley et al. Not that they worry too much I shouldn’t think.

Justice will be done. The judges had a link between us and another case today in the court. So many miscarriages so little court time!

Take care, message soon from Keran on the web site.

Iain

Don’t forget Ferret racing coming up soon! Still a few tickets left for the ball….watch me make an arse of myself I may have a drink!

Hi,

Once again a quick update from the Birthday Boy. Now it’s not a subtle hint (about a subtle as a brick through a window), but my cunning way of mentioning presents (in the Media they call that a segway - a seemless link if ever there was-n’t).

I don’t normally celebrate birthdays, with everything that has happened over the last few years it all seems a bit worthless and anyway its only my 22nd Birthday (keep going…I don’t think they noticed….) so not too important.

Well my present was to hear officially from the legal team that we will have our first visit to the Royal Courts/court of Appea. Its like unwrapping the first layer of my pressie though, as there is still a way to go until we get justice. Obviously though it may be not so good news (or mixed news) for Maeve’s parents, but I hope they in some way they can get some true closure. It must be so difficult to understand at times, who do they believe?

I remember Mark on the Panorama programme saying about trusting the Police, CPS and the experts. But we all do normally. So did I. But they shattered my faith completely, I didn’t give up a 20 year Police Career on a whim. So many people I have talked to or trained talk about the Police and CPS not protecting them when they had injuries, there were witnesses and CCTV etc.

I used to try and defend them (the CPS and Police). Any organisation gets things wrong at times, but the way Ruth and Mark have been treated by them has been a Rollercoaster not only did they lose Maeve but they were put through the Mill by the ’system’. Maybe the CPS et al will be more honest and say these people we pay for haven’t proven anything.

As good as they (medics) can be they don’t know everything.

No doubt the CPS will be warning their experts to be on stand by back to ‘we pay - you say’, ‘get the cheque books out’ type stuff. I will ask one day how much they spend on expert witnesses a year actually and who tops the charts in most used.

I do hear a couple (of experts) are looking to stand down as they have had enough, well I have certainly had enough of their opinions and I won’t be alone! We have had people contacting us and await to see if they have been victims of the same ‘experts’. Maybe the experts concerned don’t want to be the next Meadows and Southall?

As we get more news we will let you know.

Anyone down this neck of the woods may have heard the distinctive thud thud of RAF Chinook helicopters today, I thought it was my birthday flypast, well the Queen has one and it is the RAF’s 90th this year, I thought maybe they were doing it for all ex RAF staff on their birthdays?! Well you can hope.

Whilst channel surfing earlier I came across the City of London’s salute to Heroes, held at St Pauls, Saluting all our Armed Services and especially those injured in the line of duty. I was a bit miffed as I had let it slip by nearly but the circling Chinooks earlier had been a big clue something was going on.

But why is it they salute our Heroes midweek? On an evening when kids have to go to school the next day? It reminds me of the Trafalgar 200 Celebrations (a couple of years ago) a hell of a lot of the Big ships and events all turned up midweek, during school times.

No wonder the public and Military in some cases have lost contact, they are hidden away from us, shame on the Government, prove me wrong bring back the Royal Tournament!

But well done to the City for doing something!

Also nice to see that rather than close Headley Court Military Hospital (were friends of mine have been treated over the years), the Government has found over £20 Million to keep it going. Maybe shamed by the work of Help for Heroes and the like!

Good. People can change things, we just have to stand up.

Anyway bed calls, sleep well and think of those thousands tonight with no water, shelter, food and indeed families in Burma. We will have to see if we can’t get something together like we did as a Scout group for the Tsunami appeal, guess who was a big mover behind that…

Take care

Iain