Terrorist verdicts may be unsafe

The conviction of four men found guilty of terrorism offences in the 1970s may be ruled unsafe after prosecutors said they no longer stand over the verdicts.

Three of the men, Eric Wright, James Henry Brown, and Peter Joseph McDonald, from Londonderry, signed confessions in police custody in 1976 and 1977.

They were 16 when they were detained, and should have been interviewed with a solicitor and an appropriate adult.

A judge will rule on whether to quash their guilty verdicts later this month.

The three men were arrested on suspicion of terrorist-related activity, including in at least one case membership of the IRA's youth wing.

Their cases were referred back to the Court of the Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission due to alleged breaches in the regulations, known as Judge's Rules, which were in operation at the time.

It has also been claimed they were ill-treated during their period in custody.

"Senior counsel Gerry Simpson QC told the Court of Appeal that the Crown's position was that they "do not seek to stand over these convictions".

"It will then be for the court to decide whether these convictions are safe," he said.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said it was a "vindication of my clients' long battle for justice".

"The RUC breached the rules that existed at the time.

"There were very few safeguards for people in custody," he said.