A Donegal man falsely imprisoned for three years is to release the story about his fight to clear his name tonight.
Businessman Frank Shortt was a successful entrepreneur who owned one of the country’s most successful nightclubs.
However his world fell apart when he was found guilty of allowing illegal drugs to be sold at The Point Inn, Quigley’s Point.
He was subsequently jailed for three years.
However Mr Shortt and his family never gave up hope that he would be found innocent.
He was later released from prison by the High Court and the Supreme Court subsequently awarded him record damages of €4.7 million in damages.
Now Mr Shortt has penned a memoir on how his world fell as well as his time behind bars.
The deeply moving and personal story is contained in ‘Abuse of Power – Frank Shortt, a Memoir.’
Guest of honour is Desmond Murphy SC who was a member of Frank’s legal team who fought to have him declared innocent.
Mr. Justice John Murray described the treatment of Frank Shortt thus: “Mr. Shortt’s experience was a tormenting saga of imprisonment, mental and physical deterioration, estrangement from family, loss of business, public and professional ignominy and despair. He was sacrificed in order the assist the career ambitions of a number of members of the Garda. “
Frank Shortt spent three long years in Mountjoy jail for crimes he did not commit, having been stitched up by two corrupt Gardaí. He lost his business and nearly lost his life.
Frank vividly describes how he and his customers at The Point Inn in Co. Donegal were terrorised by masked Gardaí using sledge hammers to trash his nightclub.
- How the Gardaí used undercover members to target him and not drug dealers
- How the Gardaí were determined to gain promotion by “catching” him out to be a person who allowed drugs to be sold in his club
- His horrific time in Mountjoy when only TM and the love of his wife Sally and family helped him retain his sanity
- How a prisoner in the next cell was raped by fellow prisoners
- How he was offered a “deal” by the State IF he would drop his conviction appeal
- How his family have suffered as a result of his imprisonment
- How his son Kristian had two attempts on his life and nearly died
- How the family continues to suffer to this day-Kristian cannot live in his home county ever again for fear of being killed
- How he and Sally lost their beloved first son in a drowning accident in Mexico
- How he and his family have still not received an apology from the Gardaí
The story of Frank Shortt is a riveting one that exposes once again how those in positions of authority and power can abuse that power in pursuit of their own personal aims and ambition. And how the system fails to ensure that they can do it with impunity.
“Abuse of Power-a memoir by Frank Shortt” is a book that must be read by everybody who cares about our justice system and how we must be vigilant at all times to ensure that miscarriages of justice must be eliminated as far as is humanly possible.
“Abuse of Power-a memoir by Frank Shortt” is published by Shorttforefathers Publishing and is available to purchase on www. frankshortt.com <http://www.xxxx.com>
The book, which is available on www.frankshortt.com will be launched in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny at 6pm this evening.
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