Although Mr Parnell was acquitted of any assault, although the security guards who accused him were found by the judge to have committed perjury in court, Judge Bernard Lever had Mr Parnell punished. It is a basic tenent of British law that no-one should be punished for a crime they did not commit.
“No man is punishable or can be lawfully made to suffer in body or goods except from a distinct breach of the law established by ordinary courts of the land.” A V Dicey
But Crown Court Appeal Judge Bernard Lever did punish Mr Parnell and he had to do community service. Mr Parnell’s solicitor also, apparently, failed to realise this further injustice, which is odd.
Mr Parnell refused to do his community service, quite rightly, as he had never committed any crime.
I wonder, I really do, if there was some sort of Masonic score settling outfit at work here. Why on earth punish a man who had just been acquitted? 
