An Irishman who has spent 26 years in prison protesting his innocence of murder was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of his trial, the Court of Appeal heard in London yesterday.
Frank Johnson (66), originally from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has always maintained he did not murder a shopkeeper, Mr Jack Sheridan, by setting him ablaze in east London on February 3rd, 1975, and is urging three judges to find his conviction "unsafe".
His barrister, Mr Edward Fitzgerald QC, told the court: "The appellant was unable to participate effectively in his trial by reason of his mental state."
Prof Michael Kopelman, a consultant neuro-psychiatrist at St Thomas's Hospital, said Johnson had paranoid psychosis during his trial. The appeal judges have heard that Johnson sacked his defence team because he thought they were involved in a conspiracy against him.
Mr Sheridan died aged 60 three weeks after being attacked in his shop. Johnson was convicted of murder in September 1976. His two co-accused have been released.
He has turned down the chance of parole, which would have enabled him to leave prison years ago, insisting he is innocent.
His case has been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.
The appeal hearing is expected to last three days.