Derry: Man’s conviction for murdering soldier referred to Court of Appeal

In 2019, he applied to the CCRC submitting claims against the police officers who carried out the interviews.

The officers in the case had been criticised in the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Latimer, Hegan, Bell and Allen.

In a statement, the CCRC said: “Having considered the Court’s findings in the Latimer case, the CCRC considers that the credibility of the officers as witnesses of truth in criminal proceedings is substantially weakened.

“This referral follows a court decision in another case referred by the CCRC, which this year resulted in the Court of Appeal quashing a conviction. This was also based on the Latimer case.

Mr McDevitt had previously applied to the CCRC in 2002.

The CCRC is responsible for independently reviewing suspected and alleged miscarriages of criminal justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.