Michael O'Brien, one of three men wrongly convicted of the 1987 murder of newsagent Philip Saunders, is now raising money to restore Saunders' grave. O'Brien spent 11 years in prison for the crime before his conviction was overturned.
O'Brien's renewed focus on Saunders came after he met the victim's sister and nephew in 2022 for a television documentary. This encounter, he stated, had a profound effect on him. Inspired by this, he recently visited Saunders' grave and decided to spearhead an effort to raise funds for a new headstone.
"I really feel for them - for the pain they've gone through," O'Brien said, explaining his motivation. "I just want to do whatever I can, not only to catch the real killer, but also to remember Philip Saunders, because I think he deserves to be remembered. He was a good guy - nobody's got a bad word to say about Mr Saunders - he was a hardworking man."
Saunders was remembered by his brother Ted and sister-in-law Marge as "a loving brother and a caring uncle" who was denied a retirement he had worked hard to enjoy. O'Brien, who never met Saunders, has learned about him over the years and feels a connection to his story.
Since his release from prison, O'Brien has been an advocate for victims of miscarriages of justice. Last year, he pursued a legal challenge to recover money deducted from his compensation payout to cover