This campaign has been set up to raise funds for further legal work in the case of Patrick Ruane, who is currently serving a custodial sentence following his conviction for offences of encouraging terrorism, arising from online messages posted during the Covid lockdown period.

Patrick’s case raises serious concerns about vulnerability, mental health, and proportionality, and we believe it represents a possible miscarriage of justice that now requires independent legal scrutiny. Patrick’s case was conducted under significant legal aid constraints, and important evidential and contextual material was not fully explored before the court.

At the time of the alleged offences, Patrick was experiencing a profound deterioration in his mental health. He was isolated during lockdown, separated from his children and family, had lost his work, and suffered a relapse into alcohol dependency after a long period of sobriety. He has a long-standing history of trauma and has been diagnosed with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

A formal prison and probation assessment (OASys), completed after sentence, describes Patrick as a vulnerable individual, with no entrenched extremist mindset, a low risk of reoffending, and behaviour that was reckless rather than intentional. The assessment recognises that his conduct arose from a convergence of psychological distress, alcohol misuse, isolation and disrupted medical care (during a period when the NHS was understandably overwhelmed, Patrick’s medication was discontinued and continuity of care was lost).

Despite this, Patrick received a lengthy custodial sentence under terrorism legislation. The contrast between the findings of vulnerability and low risk on the one hand, and the severity of the outcome on the other, raises serious questions about whether sufficient weight was given to mental illness, recklessness, and proportionality at earlier stages of the process.

Patrick’s family have consistently raised concerns that he is a vulnerable adult who was not adequately protected by existing safeguards, and who was drawn into unmoderated online spaces during lockdown at a time when he was least able to protect himself. These concerns are echoed, in part, by the prison assessment itself.

This campaign is not an attempt to minimise the seriousness of the law or the importance of public safety. It exists to ensure that Patrick’s case is properly examined, and that potential failures in process, assessment, and legal judgment are subjected to independent review.

If you believe that vulnerability should not be mistaken for danger, and that the justice system must be willing to correct itself when it gets things wrong, we ask for your support.

Why we are raising £20 000

Challenging a possible miscarriage of justice requires specialist legal work. This funding target reflects the realistic costs of obtaining independent legal advice and preparing further legal action in Patrick Ruane’s case.

Funds raised will be used for:

• Specialist criminal appeal and post-conviction advice
  
  

• Detailed review of trial transcripts, evidence, and sentencing materials
  
  

• Preparation of legal grounds for further proceedings
  
  

• Expert input where required to address issues of mental health, vulnerability, and culpability
  
  

Legal aid is extremely limited at this stage, and without public support it may not be possible for these issues to be properly examined by the courts. Any funds raised will be used solely for legal purposes and, wherever possible, paid directly into a solicitor’s client account.

If the full target is not required, any unused funds will be handled responsibly and transparently in accordance with CrowdJustice’s terms.

Thank you all for supporting and standing up for justice for Patrick in his hour of need.