Man to sue those who puthim inside for St Brendan’s

Lawyers for Luigi Marotta, aged 66, told the Sentinel they believe their client “will instruct us to instigate the apporpriate legal proceedings against all organisations and persons involved in his unlawful conviction in 2000, forthwith.”

During a series of hearings at the Court of Appeal it was claimed IRA informer Kevin Fulton - working for the RUC’s anti-racketeering unit - had introduced Mr Marotta to two alleged co-conspirators before the alleged fraud was organised in 1997. However, none of this so-called intelligence information was disclosed at the time of Mr Marotta’s original trial. Now the Public Prosectution Service (PPS) has acknowledged that they cannot stand over Mr Marotta’s conviction.

In a statement released to the Sentinel, his lawyers said: “Mr Marotta welcomes the decision by the PPS that they cannot stand over his conviction of some 13 years ago now. Mr Marotta is pleased that the Court of Appeal now confirm that his conviction is to be quashed and there is to be no retrial.” They said Mr Marotta believes he has been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

“My client spent time in custody in this jurisdiction and he believes this should not have happened. His appeal has been ongoing for many years. It is a matter of regret that at the time of Marotta’s trial full disclosure by the prosecution was not provided to us. The PPS now take the proper and lawful course and that is to be welcomed. Mr Marotta will now consider what has happened.”