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Page 1FACTION/ May 2006
 The long fight by Molly Gee to clearher son’s name ended in the AppealCourt on 31st March, when a rapeconviction against Darryl Gee wasquashed in the Court of Appeal.Sadly, Darryl died in August 2002aged 55 in Armley prison.Darryl was a music teacher living inHuddersfield. Following allegationsof rape and indecent assault against a10 year old girl he had taught in1989, allegations which were madesome ten years later, Darryl wasconvicted by majority verdict after a week-long trial at Leeds CrownCourt and sentenced to 8 yearsimprisonment in January 2001.Darryl appealed against hisconviction but died soon afterlosing his second appeal. Hismother. Molly, vowed to clear hisname. With the support of closefriends and F.A.C.T. membersthroughout the UK, Molly alertedthe Criminal Cases Review Comm-ission (CCRC) to Darryl’s case. John Weedon, a Commissioner forthe CCRC, gave a key note speechto the F.A.C.T. conference in May 2004. No one who was present willever forget her plea to him. Molly,now well into her eighties, wasdetermined that she should hearDarryl’s name cleared. Sadly,Darryl’s father had died soon afterhe was convicted.
Case Re-examined
 The CCRC re-examined the case,bringing in memory expert DrMartin Conway. His report on MrGee's accuser - along with othermedical evidence about her -proved crucial to the defence. Atthe Appeal Court the presiding  Judge, Lady Justice Smith, heardthat the complainant, who is now 26, had made very similarallegations against a JohnHudson, from Huddersfield, whose conviction was quashed by the Appeal Court last year. At are-trial in February this year, theCPS offered no evidence. Mr Geeand Mr Hudson did not know one another.Mr Gee's barrister, Mr MalcolmSwift QC, had appealed againstDarryl’s conviction, andprosecuting barrister, Mr Jeremy Richardson, told the three AppealCourt judges the CPSdid notoppose the appeal. He admitted"real reservations as to thecredibility of the accounts that thecomplainant has given". Mrs Gee was also granted costs in excess of of £60,000 - the money she hashad to spend pursuing the case toprove her son's innocence.Mr Swift said: "The belief of theGee family is that this is a tragiccase from all points of view. MrGee always protested hisinnocence.” Lady Justice Smithsaid that if what was known now  was known at the timeof MrGee's trial ,"the outcome might well have been to acquit Mr Geeand we must find the verdictsunsafe. The convictions will bequashed and we hope this sadstory can be said to be at an end."
Good News
Mrs Gee was given the good news ina phone call. She said: “I'm just sopleased, but I'll have to ring off now because I'm going to cry.” Mr Swiftsaid later:: “Fortunately cases likethese are rare. The system isn't gearedto look at difficult cases like this. Incases of a sexual nature the state of the law is not satisfactory. Darryl'scase is very unusual. You do notoften get cases that are proveably  wrong.” He said that, after Mr Geelost his appeal in July 2002, he was ashattered man and died in Armley Prison just weeks later, and added:"Up to then he had faith in the
FACTION
CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF FALSELY ACCUSED CARERS AND TEACHERS
May 2006VOL 3/1
Justice At Last for Darr
l
Victory for Molly — but at what cost?
Continued on page 8…
 
Page 2FACTION/ May 2006
Editorial
 This is the first FACTion producedunder the new editorial and printing arrangements. F.A.C.T. has been very fortunate in having David Sherwell asits FACTion editor. We are deeply grateful for all that he has done, and forthe generosity of his employers inallowing him to print it at cost price.David has always managed to puttogether a lively and informativemagazine. The range and depth of articles has been staggering, theartwork impeccable. Although Davidmust take credit for the finishedmagazine we know he would say hecould not have achieved so much without your support andencouragement. We hope you will enjoy this issueand see it as a demonstration of ourcommitment to try and maintain thehigh standard David has set us – though it may take us some time tolearn how to use the technology andgrasp the practicalities of production, printing anddistribution! Without David’s massive comm-itment, it is more important thanever that FACTion is a team effort. The committee will be fully involved in its production and, asmany of you have requested, wehope to keep you better informedof what we do on your behalf.FACTions will be produced atintervals, in-line with nationalcommittee meetings (approximately every six weeks). This will help keepFACTion on a regular schedule. We also hope FACTion can be tiedin with the F.A.C.T. web site at www.factuk.org so that those of you who do not have internet access donot miss out. This we hope will beof particular benefit to F.A.C.T.members in prison. With the help of David’s employers, we have been printing around athousand copies each issue – the vast majority of which have beenposted to F.A.C.T. members andsupporters. Without this help eachcopy of FACTion will now costbetween fifty and seventy pence toproduce and distribute. A print runof 1,000 copies is likely to beprohibitively expensive. We willcertainly make sure that membersand key supporters do not miss out.However, without additionalincome, we will have to limit thenumbers sent to other parties. With this in mind, we’re looking tosponsor each edition of FACTion,as some of you have generously done in the past. If this issomething you, a group of you, oryour firm would like to do, pleaseget in touch. Ideally we would liketo raise £150 in sponsorship foreach edition of FACTion, about£1,200 a year.Remember, FACTion is yourmagazine.We need to hear your voice, and to exchange information,opinion and news.We need toknow what you like and dislikeabout FACTion, to ensure that itcontinues to be a valued resourcefor everyone concerned withF.A.C.T. We also need people to write relevantand informative articles for FACTion. These can be as short as ten, or asmuch as a thousand words long; seriousor humorous, critical or complimentary. We will withhold your name or use apseudonym if you prefer.Send your comments and articles to
FACTion, PO Box 3074, Cardiff,CF3 3WZ
or by email to
faction@factuk.org
 The editorial team look forward tohearing from you all.
Chairman’s Report
 We owe much gratitude to Davidfor his tirelesss work in producing thirteen editions of FACTion, all of the highest standard and reflecting F.A.C.T.’s development andexpansion. The new Editorial Teamlook forward to continuing andbuilding on David's excellentinitiatives. The National Committee met onSaturday 22 April and, apart fromits regular business, concentratedon the new arrangements forFACTion; Operation Release andfurther Lobbying; and the May Conference. Reports from theRegions can be found under“National and Regional News”. Itis particularly good to see theNorth West going from strength tostrength.I am reminded of a memorableNorth West Conference when wefirst met Molly Gee, who addressedus in her typically forthrightmanner. Darryl’s story washarrowing, her determinationpalpable and the impact made,considerable. How good it is to seethis rewarded by the legalacknowledgement of his innocence.If Molly represented ‘old feisty’ atthat Conference, ‘young feisty’ wasrepresented by an equally determined and vociferousteenager, David Strettle, whoshared with us his family’s outrageat the injustice suffered by hisfather, Barry. David is now anEngland Rugby UnionInternational, having playedrecently in the winning team in theHong Kong Sevens, where he ably demonstrated those qualities.May I urge you all to come toF.A.C.T.’s Spring Conference, where we shall demonstrate that very same determination. We havea very interesting programme andtwo excellent speakers. I look forward to seeing you there.Rory. 24th April 2006
Happy Birthday
 There is only one birthday this month (as far as weknow) so
Happy Birthday
 
Page 3FACTION/ May 2006
Royal Courts of Justice
 The Royal Courts of Justice AdviceBureau have set up a Miscarriage of  Justice Support Service to provideconfidential advice and assistanceto people whose cases have beenreviewed by the Criminal CasesReview Commission and referredto the Court of Appeal for a re-hearing, and to people pursuing their own out of time appeal. The service also aims to visitclients before their release toassess need, and to have an advisoron hand at the appeal hearing inorder to assist the client throughthe discharge process. After release, ongoing advice andsupport will be provided to assist with resettlement issues such asaccommodation, income, app-lying for National Insurancecredits, registering for health care,employment and training needs,and finding a solicitor to deal withcompensation claims. The serviceis funded by the Home Officeand run independently by theCitizens Advice Service. The service has been in existencefor a while but has recently obtained funding for a three yearexpansion. The service was re-launched at a presentation heldin the Middle Temple on the30th April. This was attended by Home Office officials, CABstaff, lawyers, representativesfrom several charities and voluntary organisations, andseveral victims of miscarriage of justice including a number of high profile cases. F.A.C.T. wasalso represented.If you would like further detailsas to what the Royal Courts of  Justice Advice Bureau or theMiscarriage of Justice SupportService are able to offer you cancontact them direct Tel: 0207947 7822 or by emailmjs@rcjadvice.org.uk, or if you
Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Bill
 The Government have recently published the Safeguarding  Vulnerable Groups Bill. This aimsto provide a central vetting processbuilt on the Criminal RecordsBureau (CRB), with a new independent statutory Boardtaking decisions on including someone on the barred list whereevidence suggests that they presenta risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults. This new scheme will integrate the currentteachers List 99, and theProtection of Children Act list andprovide a new list of people barredfrom working with vulnerableadults, replacing the Protection of  Vulnerable Adults List. The HomeOffice are currently working onthe detail with the DfES. It will bepossible to review or appeal adecision. The new system willstreamline the current chaoticsystem but F.A.C.T. is concernedthat Ministers will no longer beable to use their discretion inborderline cases.F.A.C.T. is actively lobbying Ministers for additional safeguardsand will keep you informed of progress. We are particularly concerned that the Governmentuse this opportunity to ensure thatChief Constables are madeaccountable for information they include on CRB checks (including non conviction information), andthat they introduce an appealmechanism for those people who wish to challenge the validity of such comments. The majority of our referrals arefrom people with concerns aboutinformation on their CRB check. We need to make sure of a properbalance between the need toprotect children/vulnerable adults, while safeguarding the reputationsof innocent carers and teachers.Please lobby your MP and makesure they understand the issues.
F.A.C.T.
Spring Conference
False Allegations - Fighting Back
Saturday 20th May 200611:30am to 4:30pm
To be held at St Chad’s RC Cathedral, Birmingham
(Close to road and rail networks)
Free Admission
Refreshments will be providedat nominal charge
Come and join us
For further details contact Gail or Joy 
Dr Richard Baker 
Congratulations to Richard Bakeron being awarded his PhD. Hisdissertation was titled
The perspectives of Pupils, Parents and Teachers in a Secondary School,regarding the role of Homework
.
Golden Wedding
Congratulations to Freda & Bob who recently celebrated their Golden Wedding. Bob and Freda spent aquiet but emotional day with family.Earlier local members presentedthem with a camera so that they could take pictures of the occasion.Freda and Bob are delighted with thegift which they intend to put to very good use during their forthcoming stay in London at the Hilton Hotel - apresent from family members. We hope they will have a very restfuland pleasant time and wish themcontinuing health and happiness inthe years ahead. We thank them bothfor all that they do for F.A.C.T.
Welcome home
 John Porteous, Robert Starr andanother F.A.C.T. member haverecently been released from prison. We wish them and their familiesevery success as they re-adjust toone another, and begin this new chapter in their lives.
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