Ronald Appleton

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Ronald Appleton
KC
Ronald Appleton Image.jpg
Born
Ronald Appleton

(1927-12-29) 29 December 1927 (age 96)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
OccupationFormer Chief Crown Prosecution for Northern Ireland
Years active1951–1999

Ronald Appleton KC , (born 29 December 1927) is the former chief crown prosecutor (Senior Crown Counsel) for Northern Ireland, a post he held for 22 years, a period that spanned the Northern Ireland 'Troubles'. Having established a broad civil practice as a QC he became one of the most experienced terrorism trial lawyers in the UK. [1] As senior counsel he led for the Crown in many of the major murder and terrorism cases during those years. Martin Dillon, in his book on the Shankill Butchers trial described Ronald Appleton as "one of the outstanding lawyers of his generation". [2]

Contents

Posts held

Posts held by Appleton include King's Counsel (appointed 1969), Senior Crown Prosecutor for Northern Ireland (1977-1999), Father of the Bar, founder and chairman of Pro Bono Society, Committee for Holocaust Remembrance, president of Belfast Hebrew Congregation, co-chair Council of Christians and Jews and founder and president of Thanksgiving Square.[ citation needed ]

Background and family

Appleton was born in Belfast in 1927, the eldest son of Jewish immigrant parents. His mother Sophie, had been born near Kiev in Ukraine, and his father David was born in Dumfries, Scotland from a family of Lithuanian origin. David was a Merchant Seaman and served with the Royal Australian Navy in the First World War. He was decorated for his service. Ronald has two younger brothers; Neil and Ian. Neil became a millionaire in the pharmaceutical industry and had two sons, David and Marc Appleton.

He attended Skegoniel Primary School and Belfast High School (where he later served as school governor). He obtained his law degree at Queen's University Belfast and was also head of the University Socialist Society.

He worked as a barrister acting for the defence in criminal trials - including in a number of capital cases. These include the trial following the murder of Constable Victor Arbuckle, the first policeman to be killed in the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Ronald Appleton married Shoshana (née Schmidt) in 1963 in Tel Aviv, Israel. They have five children. [3]

Notable trials

Maxwell v. Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland

Maxwell is a leading case dealing with the mens rea of accomplices in joint enterprise cases. It establishes that an accomplice can be convicted as a principal to a crime even if the role was subordinate.

The case was heard at the House of Lords before Viscount Dilhorne, Lord Hailsham, Lord Edmund-Davies, Lord Fraser and Lord Scarman on 24 July, 19 October 1978. Ronald Appleton QC led for the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland (DPP). [4]

Michael Stone

Ronald Appleton was the Crown Prosecutor for the 1989 trial of Michael Stone, an Ulster Loyalist. In this trial, Mr Stone pleaded not guilty to a total of 38 terrorist charges relating to 11 separate incidents between November 1984 and 16 March 1988. These charges included six counts of murder, six attempted murder, six wounding and three conspiracy to murder. [5] Three of these murder charges were the result of the Milltown Massacre where Mr Stone had thrown grenades and shot at mourners during the funeral of three Provisional IRA volunteers killed in Gibraltar 10 days earlier. Regarding this incident, Ronald Appleton told Justice Higgins that Stone, using "earthy and colourful language" said "brilliant" when told he had killed at least two people. [6] Although pleading not guilty, Stone refused to offer any defence. Stone was convicted and imprisoned with sentences totalling 684 years.

Corporals Killings

The burial of Caoimhiin Mac Brádaigh (Kevin Brady), an IRA member killed in the Milltown Cemetery Attack by loyalist Michael Stone 3 days earlier, took place shortly after of the previous loyalist attack. Due to the consequent fear of attacks, when corporals Derek Wood and Robert Howes drove into the IRA procession in civilian clothing, they were surrounded, pulled out of their car and beaten. They were then dragged to Casement Park sports ground, beaten and stripped of clothing. At this point they were then thrown over a high wall to be put into a waiting black taxi, driven 200 yards to waste ground and shot several times. [7] It was confirmed via post-mortem that Corporal Wood was shot twice in the head and four times in the body as well as being stabbed in the neck. Corporal Howes was shot once in the head and four times in the body. [8]

In April 1989, the first of 5 trials for the murder of Corporals Derek Wood and Robert Howes, often referred to as the Corporals killings, was held. Henry Maguire and Alex Murphy denied a total of nine charges including the assault, causing of grievous bodily harm, false imprisonment and murder of the corporals. Ronald Appleton, QC, for prosecution said that it was the Crown's case that Maguire and Murphy "were part of a smaller crowd...that were engaged in a joint enterprise to kill". [9]

Initial evidence highlighted by Ronald Appleton included bloodstains on the defendants at the time of arrest that matched the soldiers' and fibres found on the two at arrest matched that of the clothes the corporals were wearing. Ronald Appleton concluded "this defendant had at least been in close contact with the soldiers". Video footage of the event was obtained from a British Army helicopter allegedly showed that both of the accused were part of a small group including 3 others. 11 witnesses who had been shown the video identified Murphy and Maguire. Due to the amount and quality of evidence against the defendants, Ronald Appleton claimed that the court would come to the "irresistible inference" that the accused were guilty. [9]

Murphy and Maguire were never accused of shooting the corporals. [9] Henry Maguire and Alex Murphy were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.[ clarification needed ] A further 83 years for Murphy and 79 years for Maguire were given for grievous bodily harm and false imprisonment of the soldiers as well as possession of a gun and ammunition. [10]

Dominic McGlinchey

Ronald Appleton represented the crown in the extradition and at the later trial of Dominic McGlinchey [11] for the murder of the postmistress Hester McMullan. [12]

DeLorean Motor Company Fraud

In April 1992, Frederick Bushell, former chairman of the British Lotus Luxury car firm was first put on trial for his role in defrauding up to $17.5 million over a four-year period ending December 1982. [13]

Bushell admitted his criminal involvement with DeLorean Motor Company and Lotus Cars founders, John DeLorean and Colin Chapman, respectively. However, due to John DeLorean's residence in the US and the death of Colin Chapman, Bushell stood alone in the docks. [13]

Bushell's counsel, Desmond Boal KC, requested six weeks to put his affairs in order, suggesting that it was also in public interest. Ronald Appleton agreed that Bushell should be given some time however unsuccessfully argued that the time requested was too much. Bushell was given six weeks to get his affairs in order, in which time bail was set at £50,000. [13]

Lotus was called to develop DeLorean's prototype car for $17.65 million to which the company board was talked into paying in advance. This money was never used for development and instead was siphoned through a Geneva-based company set up a year prior by Chapman and Bushell. Of the total amount $8.5m went to DeLorean, $7.5 to Chapman and $848,000 to Bushell. "Not a penny went to the development work" [14]

Frederick Bushell was sentenced to three years imprisonment, taking into consideration his guilty plea and his recent triple heart bypass surgery. [14]

Arbuckle Murder

Constable Victor Arbuckle, a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was shot dead by loyalists on Shankill Road on 11 October 1969. Victor Arbuckle was the first police fatality of the Troubles. [15] Three men were subsequently put on trial for Capital Murder, a crime carrying the death penalty sentence if found guilty. The three men on trial were Thomas McNeil Roundtree, Ernest Robert Bell and William John Duncan. The defendants were also charged with maliciously wounding four other people, including a Special Constable, as well as with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Ronald Appleton defended Thomas Roundtree. [16]

The trial first commenced in June 1970. However, it was found that the route taken by the coach driver driving the jury to and from the court passed areas of the Shankill road that were integral to the case. Due to this, two defendants applied for discharge of jury. Justice McGonigal agreed that if there was a risk of a "miscarriage of justice" he must not take the risk and thus dismissed the trial. [17]

The retrial began in October 1970. It became apparent during proceedings that crown witnesses had been confronted outside of court. As a result, Justice McGonigal warned the court that any threats made to any witnesses would "be met with the most severe punishment which the court could impose". [18]

Thomas Roundtree, Ernest Bell and William Duncan were all found not guilty for the Capital Murder of Victor Arbuckle, however 1 week later they were found guilty of armed offences carrying sentences ranging from 6 to 10 years. [19]

La Mon House Hotel Bombing

On 17 February 1978 an incendiary bomb was placed and detonated in the La Mon House Hotel, Belfast, killing 12 people in "a fireball 60 feet wide and 40 feet high". [20] Two men were tried in connection with the bombing: Edward Brophy and Robert Murphy.

Edward Manning Brophy pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of murder as well as 37 other charges including IRA membership and the causing of 11 other explosions in Belfast between 1976 and 1978. Ronald Appleton, prosecuting, stated that it was the Crown's case that Brophy was "guilty of murder because he provided the very lethal bomb and the hijacked cars to an IRA bombing team". [20] Evidence for this case consisted entirely of alleged statements made by the defendant at Castlereagh) inquiry center. This evidence was ultimately deemed inadmissible which lead to Brophy being cleared of the La Mon Hotel bombing murder charges but sentenced to 5 years for alleged IRA membership. [21]

Shankill Butchers Killings

The Shankill Butchers was an Ulster loyalist gang—many of whom were members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) that was active between 1975 and 1982 in Belfast. It was based in the Shankill area and was responsible for the deaths of at least 23 people, most of whom were killed in sectarian attacks. The gang was notorious for kidnapping and murdering random civilians from the Catholic community; each was beaten ferociously and had their throat hacked with a butcher's knife. Some were also tortured and attacked with a hatchet. The gang also killed six Protestants over personal disputes, and two other Protestants mistaken for Catholics. Most of the gang were eventually caught and, in February 1979, received the longest combined prison sentences in United Kingdom legal history. [22] Appleton represented the crown in the prosecution and was described by Martin Dillon, in his book on The Shankill Butchers case as "a lawyer of outstanding ability". [2]

Shankill Road Bombing

A bomb planted on the Shankill Road in October 1993 resulted in the death of 10 people. Many others were seriously injured. Ronald Appleton, for the prosecution in the trial of the surviving bomber Sean Kelly, told Belfast Crown Court that witnesses had seen Mr Kelly and Begley, dressed in white coats and hats, carrying a box into the fishmonger's. As Begley set down the box it exploded. [23]

Other work

Thanksgiving Square

Ronald Appleton was a founder and President of Thanksgiving Square, a charitable organisation set up to create a place of reflection in Belfast in the aftermath of the Troubles. After several year, the space was founded in Thanksgiving Square on the bank of the River Lagan at Lanyon Place. There they commissioned and built a 17 metres (56 ft) high statue, by the Scottish Sculptor Andy Scott.[ citation needed ]

Jewish causes

When the British Government announced the founding of a National Holocaust Remembrance Day, they decided that the first National Ceremony should be held in Belfast. The resulting event, termed "From the Holocaust to Rwanda", in the presence of Prince Edward, featured readings by Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney and the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and was attended by national and international dignitaries. The event is annual.

Ronald Appleton was the President of the Jewish Community in Northern Ireland, a position he held for 14 years.[ citation needed ] He is also the founder and a committee member of the Northern Ireland Council of Christians and Jews. [24]

Northern Ireland Lawyers Pro Bono Unit

Ronald Appleton was the first chairman of the lawyers Pro Bono Unit in Northern Ireland. The Pro Bono Unit was set up to provide advice and representation by barristers and solicitors who have volunteered to join the Scheme Panel, providing a range of legal services without charge.

Related Research Articles

The Shankill Butchers were an Ulster loyalist paramilitary serial killer gang – many of whom were members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) – that was active between 1975 and 1982 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was based in the Shankill area and was responsible for the deaths of at least 23 people, most of whom were killed in sectarian attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Moore (loyalist)</span> Northern Irish gangster

William Moore was a Northern Irish loyalist. He was a member of the Shankill Butchers, an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang. It was Moore who provided the black taxi and butcher knives which the gang used to carry out its killings. Following ringleader Lenny Murphy's arrest, Moore took over as the de facto leader of the gang and the killings continued.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenny Murphy</span> Northern Irish loyalist (1952–1982)

Hugh Leonard Thompson Murphy was a Northern Irish loyalist and UVF officer. As leader of the Shankill Butchers gang, Murphy was responsible for the murders of mainly Catholic civilians, often first kidnapping and torturing his victims. Due to a lack of evidence, Murphy was never brought to trial for these killings, for which some of his followers had already received long sentences in 1979.

Diplock courts were criminal courts in Northern Ireland for non-jury trial of specified serious crimes. They were introduced by the Northern Ireland Act 1973 and used for serious and terrorism-related cases during the Troubles. The Justice and Security Act 2007 ended the automatic use of non-jury trials for scheduled offences but they are still used in Northern Ireland upon certification by the Director of Public Prosecutions on a case-by-case basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corporals killings</span> 1988 killings in Belfast, Northern Ireland

On 19 March 1988, the British Army corporals Derek Wood and David Howes were killed by the Provisional IRA in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in what became known as the corporals killings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shankill Road bombing</span> 1993 IRA attack in Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Shankill Road bombing was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 23 October 1993 and is one of the most well-known incidents of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The IRA aimed to assassinate the leadership of the loyalist Ulster Defence Association (UDA), supposedly attending a meeting above Frizzell's fish shop on the Shankill Road, Belfast. Two IRA members disguised as deliverymen entered the shop carrying a bomb, which detonated prematurely. Ten people were killed: one of the IRA bombers, a UDA member and eight Protestant civilians, two of whom were children. More than fifty people were wounded. The targeted office was empty at the time of the bombing, but the IRA had allegedly realised that the tightly packed area below would inevitably cause "collateral damage" of civilian casualties and continued regardless. However, the IRA have denied this saying that they intended to evacuate the civilians before the explosion. It is alleged, and unearthed MI5 documents appear to prove, that British intelligence failed to act on a tip off about the bombing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McKeague</span> Northern Irish loyalist (1930–1982)

John Dunlop McKeague was a Northern Irish loyalist and one of the founding members of the paramilitary group the Red Hand Commando in 1970. A number of authors on the Troubles in Northern Ireland have accused McKeague, a homosexual paederast, of involvement in the Kincora Boys' Home scandal but he was never convicted. He was shot dead by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) in Belfast in January 1982.

Events during the year 1982 in Northern Ireland.

John Alexander Thompson Murphy was a Northern Irish loyalist. He was one of the three leading men in the "Shankill Butchers", an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Bates (loyalist)</span> Northern Irish loyalist

Robert William Bates was a Northern Irish loyalist. He was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force and the infamous Shankill Butchers gang, led by Lenny Murphy.

This is a timeline of actions by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group since 1966. It includes actions carried out by the Red Hand Commando (RHC), a group integrated into the UVF shortly after their formation in 1972. It also includes attacks claimed by the Protestant Action Force (PAF), a covername used by the UVF. Most of these actions took place during the conflict known as "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Marchant (loyalist)</span> Northern Irish loyalist

William "Frenchie" Marchant was a Northern Irish loyalist and a high-ranking volunteer in the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). He was on a Garda list of suspects in the 1974 Dublin car bombings, and was allegedly the leader of the Belfast UVF unit known as "Freddie and the Dreamers" which hijacked and stole the three cars which were used in the bombings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Craig (loyalist)</span> Northern Irish loyalist (1941-1988)

James Pratt Craig was a Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary during The Troubles in Northern Ireland in the latter half of the 20th century, who was a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), and a command member of its Inner Council. He also ran a criminal large-scale protection racket from the West Belfast Shankill Road area, where he resided. Described by journalist David McKittrick as "Belfast's foremost paramilitary extortionist", Craig allegedly colluded at times with the enemies of the UDA, Irish Republican groups such as the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), providing them with information on key loyalists which led to their subsequent murders. Aside from controlling rackets and extorting protection money from a variety of businesses, it was claimed that Craig also participated in paramilitary murders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayardo Bar attack</span> 1975 terrorist attack in Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Bayardo Bar attack took place on 13 August 1975 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A unit of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), led by Brendan McFarlane, launched a bombing and shooting attack on a pub on Aberdeen Street, in the loyalist Shankill area. IRA members stated the pub was targeted because it was frequented by members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Four Protestant civilians and one UVF member were killed, while more than fifty were injured.

The Chlorane Bar attack was a mass shooting at a city centre pub on 5 June 1976 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was carried out by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), an Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisation, apparently in retaliation for the Provisional IRA bombing attack on the Times Bar on York Road, in which two Protestant civilians were killed. In the Chlorane attack, five civilian men were killed; three Catholics and two Protestants. The gunmen were militants from the UVF Belfast Brigade's Shankill Road battalion. The assault was a joint operation by the platoons based at the Brown Bear and the Windsor Bar, drinking haunts in the Shankill Road district frequented by UVF members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Nesbitt (policeman)</span> Northern Irish detective

James Nesbitt MBE was a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Detective Chief Inspector who was best known for having headed the Murder Squad team investigating the notorious Shankill Butchers' killings in the mid-1970s. Working from the C Division headquarters at Tennent Street off Shankill Road, Belfast, he eventually caught most of the "Butchers" which led to their convictions. Having received a total of 67 commendations throughout his career, this is the highest number for any policeman in the history of the United Kingdom. In 1980, he was given the MBE "in recognition of his courage and success in combating terrorism".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Citizen Volunteers (1972)</span>

The Young Citizen Volunteers of Ireland, or Young Citizen Volunteers (YCV) for short, was a loyalist paramilitary organisation for loyalist youths which later became the youth wing of Ulster loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force. It appropriated the name of the original Young Citizen Volunteers formed in 1912 as a British civic organisation.

James Watt also known as Tonto is a former Northern Irish loyalist who was the top bomb maker for the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the mid-1970s. In 1978, Watt was convicted and given nine separate life sentences for murder and attempted murder. These included bombings which killed a ten-year-old boy and two teenagers in two attacks carried out in April 1977 as a part of a UVF bombing campaign against republicans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillcrest Bar bombing</span> Bomb attack by the UVF in 1976

The Hillcrest Bar bombing, also known as the "Saint Patrick's Day bombing", took place on 17 March 1976 in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group, detonated a car bomb outside a pub crowded with people celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. Four Catholic civilians were killed by the blast—including two 13-year-old boys standing outside—and almost 50 people were injured, some severely.

On 2 October 1975, the loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) carried out a wave of shootings and bombings across Northern Ireland. Six of the attacks left 12 people dead and around 45 people injured. There was also an attack in a small village in County Down called Killyleagh. There were five attacks in and around Belfast which left people dead. A bomb which exploded in Coleraine left four UVF members dead. There were also several other smaller bombs planted around Northern Ireland but other than causing damage they did not kill or injure anyone.

References

  1. ↑ "John Creaney: Senior counsel in Northern Ireland who prosecuted many terrorists during the Troubles". Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 Dillon, Martin (1991). The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder. pp. 274. ISBN   9781409065227.
  3. ↑ "Home". The Irish Catholic.
  4. ↑ "Maxwell v DPP". Vanuatu.usp.ac.fj. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  5. ↑ “The calm, slight figure in the dock”. (February 21, 1989). Irish Independent, pp. 10
  6. ↑ “Man boasted of cemetery killings, court told”. (February 21, 1989). The Irish Times, pp. 8
  7. ↑ “Two deny murdering soldiers at funeral”. (April 5, 1989). The Irish Times, pp. 10
  8. ↑ “Brutal Killings on film”. (April 5, 1989). Irish Press, pp.13
  9. 1 2 3 “Murder video shows accused, court told”. (April 6, 1989). The Irish Times, pp. 10
  10. ↑ Linklater, Magnus. "Fair, firm and unclubbable. The judge who could bring about the fall of Tony Blair [ dead link ]". The Times, 24 January 2004
  11. ↑ "Obituary: Dominic McGlinchey" . Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas · Page 43". Newspapers.com. 25 December 1984. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 “Former Lotus chairman admits plot to defraud De Lorean”. (May 1, 1992). The Irish Times, pp. 2
  14. 1 2 “Car chief in ‘outrageous’ De Lorean fraud jailed”. (June 20, 1992). Irish Independent, pp. 3
  15. ↑ "CAIN: Violence: List of Significant Violent Incidents". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  16. ↑ “Further evidence in Arbuckle case in absence of jury”. (6 October 1970). The Irish Times, pp. 7
  17. ↑ “Jury discharged in murder trial: saw shooting scene” (June 18, 1970). The Irish Times, pp. 5
  18. ↑ “Arbuckle murder case warning. Intimidation of crown witnesses alleged.” (3 October 1970). The Irish Times, pp. 5
  19. ↑ McKittrick, David; Kelters, Seamus; Feeney, Brian; Thornton, Chris; McVea, David (2007). Lost Lives. Mainstream Publishing Company. p. 42. ISBN   9781840185041.
  20. 1 2 “Man denies 12 La Mon hotel murder charges”. (January 17, 1980). The Irish Times, pp. 6
  21. ↑ “Court told of horror at La Mon”. (September 9, 1980). The Press, pp. 7
  22. ↑ Dillon, Martin (1991). The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder. pp.276. ISBN   9781409065227.
  23. ↑ David Mckittrick (12 January 1995). "'No defence' in IRA bomb trial - News". The Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  24. ↑ "Holocaust advertising highlights human tragedy". www.4ni.co.uk.
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