A Clonmel man's 26-year battle to clear his name will be decided early next year when Frank Johnson's appeal against his murder conviction will be heard by the British Court of Appeal in February.
Johnson, originally from Oliver Plunkett Terrace, Clonmel, has continually protested his innocence since he was convicted in September of 1976 of the murder of Mr John Sheridan, his friend and employer, at Whitechapel, East London, in February, 1975. The case will be heard at London's Old Bailey from February 14th to 16th, 21/2 years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. This followed the disclosure of evidence that might have prevented him being charged.
Mr Johnson is represented by human rights lawyer Ms Gareth Peirce, who successfully fought the convictions of the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six.