Y Lolfa and Seren are Wales two leading publishing houses. Seren tends to concentrate on Anglo-Welsh literature whilst Y Lolfa publishes a wide range of general titles about Welsh culture and history and also a great many first rate Welsh language titles. In the interests of promoting knowledge of Wales and its leading book publishers we are featuring the press release reproduced below.

The latest title from Y Lolfa concerns a case with which many members of Americymru may be unfamiliar. In 1987 three men were convicted for the vicious murder of a Cardiff newsagent and sentenced to life imprisonment. Their sentences were subsequently overturned on appeal amidst concerns over the way the investigation was handled.

It must be stressed that the 1980's were a turbulent period in Wales' history. Social discontent and unrest manifested itself in many forms includindg national strikes by the steelworkers and mineworkers, the holiday home burning campaign conducted by Meibion Glyndwr , the Welsh language TV station protest movement, the formation of radical Welsh Republican movements and in the late 80's the beginning of the Anti Poll Tax protest movement. It is against this backdrop that a series of the most spectacular miscarriages of justice in Welsh history occurred. The case of the Cardiff Three is perhaps the most infamous of these. Another more politically charged incident involving the prosecution of members of Y Faner Goch for conspiring to produce explosives has been documented in Y Lolfa's excellent Police Conspiracy . The forthcoming title by Michael o' Brien deals with the case of the Cardiff Newsagent Three.

Whilst these cases should never be forgotten and can never be excused it should be pointed out that owing to the turbulent nature of the era, police resources were stretched to the limit and unreasonable pressure was probably brought to bear to obtain speedy convictions. It should also be pointed out that the South Wales Police have a record for intelligent and sensitive crowd control at major sporting events which should be the envy of every police force in the world.

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Books gets author out of prison and into publishing...


Michael Obrien, who was imprisoned for 11 years for a murder he didnt commit will give a full account of his ordeal and his fight for justice in the forthcoming book called The Death of Justice. The autobiography will be published by Welsh publishers, Y Lolfa in September, and the author is glad of the continuing support of the publishers as a book they published in 1984 played a crucial part in his release from prison.

Michael Obrien said: When I went for bail it was bought to my attention that there was a similar case of misscarriage of justice that had happened many years earlier described in the book Police Conspiracy published by Y Lolfa.

The book was used at the appeal and at the bail hearing and convinced the judge to free me on bail, pending an appeal. There were striking similarities between both cases which bought police investigations into question. Theres no doubt that Police Conspiracy went a long way to establish my innocence in the courts and helped to uncover what had gone on in the case. It played a significant part in my release.

Michael Obrien also feels that had the judges of the original trial know about the case in Police Conspiracy they may have reached a different verdict. He added: Im very greatful to Y Lolfa for what theyve done, and I hope my book will bring attention to all cases of miscarriage of justice in Britain.

Michael Obrien received the highest compensation payout ever for miscarriage of justice in 2006, a sum of near a million pounds, and in his book he reveals how he lost everything, including his family while in prison, and then turned to study law to work on his case. He was released in 1999 after eleven years behind bars.

The Death of Justice will be published by Y Lolfa on 19 September and is written with Greg Lewis.