With great sorrow we pay our respects to Paddy Hill. Paddy was one of the Birmingham Six miscarriages of justice victims who were all wrongfully convicted for the IRA Birmingham bombings.

We had the privilege of socialising with Paddy in 2018, where he spoke about how he was tortured by the police as they tried to force a coerced confession. Paddy spoke about the terror he felt when the police put a gun in his mouth, pulled the trigger back so he heard the click and then smashed all his teeth with the gun.

He explained, because of the extreme levels of abuse, torture and trauma he suffered, top psychiatrists told him there was nothing that could be done. The damage to him was irreversible. Paddy Hill set up MOJO (Miscarriages of Justice Organisation) to help and support other victims. The MOJO organisation are responsible for writing a report to South Wales Police highlighting their extremely high numbers of miscarriages of justice in 2000. Paddy Hill became a voice that spoke up for many who had no voice. 

The CCRC was set up as a result of the wrongful conviction of the Birmingham Six. The purpose of the CCRC organisation is to act as a watchdog to safeguard other victims of miscarriages of justice, such as Jeremy Bamber and David Morris.

Dr Michael Naughton, of Bristol University who I visited in 2023, set up the CCRC watch website due to concerns that the CCRC in its present form was unfit for purpose. 

We remember Paddy Hill and honour his life. May he rest in eternal peace.