“You can take the handcuffs off,” Judge Richard Damiani said. And with that, a man who has been in jail for 21 years — and was supposed to spend decades more behind bars — walked away a free man.

DNA set him free.

This powerful statement opens the story of a Connecticut man who was freed yesterday after DNA proved his innocence in a 1988 murder. Kenneth Ireland’s case was taken on by the Connecticut Innocence Project who obtained the DNA testing that showed someone else committed the crime. They petitioned for a new trial, which was granted.

Ireland still has the upcoming trial, but the judge let him go on a promise to appear at court.

East Haven State Rep. Mike Lawlor, co-chair of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, immediately issued the following statement:

“This is yet another Connecticut example of an innocent person having spent two decades in prison for a very serious crime while an actual rapist and murderer has been roaming free since 1986. This is not acceptable.

“The legislature, working with the Advisory Commission on Wrongful Convictions, must determine whether any state laws need to change and whether the law enforcement community is using best practices in the investigation of cases in order to avoid wrongful arrests and convictions.

“Under a 2008 law, Mr. Ireland is eligible to apply for compensation for his wrongful conviction with the state claims commissioner, who will make recommendations for compensation to the legislature. I hope this can be done in time for the 2010 legislative session, which convenes in February.”

Congratulations to the Connecticut Innocence Project and Mr. Ireland on their victory.

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