11th February 2004;
Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors & Solicitor Advocates, acting on behalf of Miss Geraldine Devine today confirmed that their client would now consider civil proceedings for malicious prosecution after a charge of withholding information in respect of the murder of Danny McGurk was withdrawn at Belfast Magistrates Court this morning.
Miss Devine, a 37 year old Belfast woman was originally charged with one alleged count of withholding information in respect of possession of a firearm contrary to s.5(1) of the Criminal Law Act (NI) 1967. Miss Devine was originally arrested and detained at Antrim Holding Centre and questioned over a 2 day period from 8th 2003 to the 10th October 2003.
Patricia Coyle of Harte Coyle Collins said today:
“Our client is relieved to be cleared of any involvement in the death of Mr McGurk. The information and alleged evidence the police relied upon to arrest, charge and detain Miss Devine would never have been admissible in a court of law. The police were well aware of this. The strict bail conditions and adverse publicity, arising from a charge which never had any concrete evidential basis, forced my client to relocate and put her under enormous stress. We intend to consider a civil action for malicious prosecution in this case.”
