Terrorist verdicts deemed unsafe

A man from Londonderry who had his terrorist conviction deemed unsafe has vowed to clear his dead friend's name.

Peter McDonald, Eric Wright and James Brown were 16-years-old when they were arrested and jailed in the mid-1970s.

On Friday, the prosecution service said it could not stand over the convictions as the boys were interviewed without a lawyer or an adult present.

Mr McDonald wants the decision extended to the late Johnny Doherty, 15, who was charged, but not jailed due to his age.

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

Mr McDonald said his prison sentence had a huge effect on his life and that of his friend, Johnny Doherty.

"He never got a chance in life. A drift came between me and him because he felt guilty about me going to prison and him not.

"It gives me an opportunity to clear this mans name."

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.