CALLS FOR a review of the convictions of more than 500 men arrested during the miners’ strike have been backed by a Fife councillor.
Bob Young was convicted of assault and sacked after being arrested at Cartmore pit in Lochgelly in 1984, an allegation he denies to this day.
The 69-year-old, who represents central Dunfermline, remains the only miner in Britain to be reinstated following his conviction after secretly recording his interviews with the Coal Board.
This means he is entitled to a backdated pension, something many ex-miners are still fighting for.
Claiming a number of his colleagues were also unfairly dismissed after becoming victims of fabricated evidence, Mr Young is supporting a bid by Labour MSP Neil Findlay and MP David Hamilton to persuade the Scottish Government to launch a review of the prosecutions.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission for England and Wales is investigating allegations that South Yorkshire police officers were told what to write in their statements following clashes during the strike.
Mr Young, who lived in Methil at the time of the action and worked at a number of pits, said he was one of 133 men to be arrested at Cartmore.
“Only one got sacked and that was me. I was chairman of the strike centre so what does that tell you?” he said.
“I was on the picket line and the police accused me of assault but nothing had happened at all.
“They wanted to accuse me of mobbing and rioting but that was dropped because of the situation in Sheffield where police were accused of fabricating evidence.”
During a 15-month fight to clear his name and gain reinstatement, he recorded interviews with Coal Board managers.
“When I produced the tapes they backed off and there was a long spell of silence.
“Something needs to be done to exploit the fact there were a lot of lies told during the strike.
“I’m more than happy for them to use my case to prove people did lie and were willing to go to tribunals to lie.”
cwarrender@thecourier.co.uk