Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
A man convicted over four decades ago for the murder of a British soldier in Londonderry has had his appeal rejected. John McDevitt, aged 61, had argued that police officers had forced him into making a false confession using oppressive interrogation techniques. The case concerns the death of Private Neil Clarke, who was killed on Easter Monday in 1984 after leaving a military Land Rover that was assaulted with petrol bombs in the Bishop Street area of Derry.
The Court of Appeal in Belfast, presided over by Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan alongside Justices Adrian Colton and Stephen Fowler, dismissed McDevitt’s appeal, concluding that the case “must fail on its facts.” McDevitt was sentenced to more than ten years in prison following his conviction for the murder. In October 2024, the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred his conviction back to the Court of Appeal due to concerns about the trustworthiness of police witnesses. Earlier in April 2024, four other convictions were also referred to the same court for review.
During the court proceedings, the Lady Chief Justice explained that the prosecution’s position was that McDevitt acted as an “aider and abettor,” allegedly driving the gunman to and from the shooting scene. She noted that McDevitt had repeatedly provided detailed false statements during interviews voluntarily and without pressure. Additionally, she highlighted that McDevitt admitted to his involvement in the petrol bombing, which was itself a serious offense. Legal advice was sought during the interviews, which were paused overnight, and the court found no merit in claims that McDevitt was influenced by inducements given the seriousness of the crime.
Following the ruling, McDevitt expressed his disappointment but remained determined to continue fighting to clear his name. He stated, “I maintain my innocence in relation to this murder conviction and the other four offences, including wounding of other soldiers.” He also thanked his family, supporters, and legal team for their steadfast support over the 43 years of his ongoing pursuit of justice. Colum Eastwood, MP for Foyle, who had attended court with McDevitt’s family, described the verdict as “extremely disappointing” and pledged to support McDevitt in his ongoing efforts to challenge the conviction, acknowledging the significant questions that remain about how the case was handled
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.