Stand against injustice

Stand against injustice

Michelle Diskin Bates

As an ‘ordinary housewife’ in Ballincollig in Cork, Michelle Diskin Bates was stunned to hear that her brother Barry had been arrested for the murder of BBC TV presenter, Jill Dando.  In Stand against injustice, she tells of travelling to England to support her mentally disabled brother, and having to repeatedly leave her husband and children.  Worse was to follow, when Barry was convicted.  Knowing her brother’s disabilities, Michelle was certain he wasn’t guilty.  But could she do anything?

‘You can’t fight the whole justice system … this is a battle we can never win ….
Then - a new thought - we may not be able to fight this colossus, but God can.’

On RTE Radio’s Gerry Ryan Show, she launched her fight to prove Barry innocent.  This culminated in a retrial.  His conviction was quashed and he was declared not guilty, but not for 8 years.  In the interim, Michelle had to draw on her relationship with Jesus simply to keep going, and was supported by family, friends, her church, and even one of the Birmingham Six.  Media intimidation damaged her mother’s health, and shortly before the appeal, her husband died.

‘This account will, undoubtedly, make you think differently about the criminal justice system from hereon … It will also show you what can be achieved when an (extra)ordinary woman on a mission from God with little or no apparent resources makes a demand for truth and justice for her brother and will not take no for an answer.’  Dr Michael Naughton, Bristol University Law School

Rónán Johnston interviewed Michelle Diskin Bates on The Morning Show on Spirit Radio in September 2019.
To listen just click on the arrow below.  To adjust the sound, the volume bar is to the right.