Wrongly convicted man threatens Christmas hunger strike over compensation costs
Michael O'Brien was wrongly convicted of murder in 1987
Last updated 11th Dec 2023
A man from Cardiff who was wrongly convicted of murder is going on hunger strike this Christmas in protest over compensation costs.
It's after more than £37,000 was reportedly deducted from Michael O'Brien's award to cover his living costs whilst he was in prison.
Mr O'Brien was one of the men known as the 'Cardiff Newsagent Three' after being convicted in 1987 of the murder of Phillip Saunders.
In a statement, he said he "will be fasting for justice and refusing Christmas meals over the festive period and beginning a hunger strike starting on Christmas Day."
"I want to express my anger at the continuing victimisation of innocent people," he added.
The current laws in place date back to a 2007 decision by members of the House of Lords when Mr O'Brien and others tried to appeal against deductions for their prison stays.
It said that money might be deducted from compensation in certain circumstances for "saved living expenses".
After spending a decade behind bars and now having to pay for that time, O'Brien says he feels the system is "unfair" and "discriminatory".
He said: "The Ministry of Justice have given my solicitor the run around and are doing all they can to make excuses to not engage with me – as a result, I’ve no choice but to go on hunger strike."
We've approached The Ministry of Justice for comment.