Patricia Coyle

Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors & Advocates has welcomed the outcome for their client, who was convicted in 2017 of two counts of misuse of a telecommunications device at Ballymena Magistrates Court after a contested court hearing.

The prosecution relied solely on the evidence of the alleged complainant and led a district judge in Ballymena Magistrates Court to impose two monetary fines on conviction.

The man approached the law firm in 2022, and an application for a miscarriage of justice review was submitted to the CCRC in January 2024.

In April 2025, the CCRC unearthed and provided critical documentary evidence which had been withheld by investigating police from the prosecution, defence, and the court before the contested court hearing in 2017.

This related to a police record showing that the alleged complainant had made a false allegation against the man prior to trial that our client had breached bail conditions. The allegation was checked by police at the time and found to be untrue.

The man’s lawyers subsequently applied to Antrim County Court for an extension of time to appeal based on this new evidence over eight years after the original court hearing, which was granted.

The case came before Judge Gilpin on Thursday 4 September, where the Public Prosecution Service offered no evidence against the man. The judge directed that he be acquitted of the two offences, that the fine funds be repaid to him and confirmed that the convictions were quashed. 

Solicitor Patricia Coyle said: “The police failure to disclose important evidence in this case which undermined the credibility of the alleged complainant led to a difficult eight years for my client.

“Our client intends to now lodge a complaint with the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and consider his civil law remedies.

“Our client thanks the Criminal Cases Review Commission for their work and assistance in this case.”

The man was represented by Patricia Coyle, solicitor of Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors & Advocates, and barrister Gerard McGettigan BL in the application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and the successful appeal.