Derry: Further convictions in soldier murder case to be reviewed
A man whose conviction for the murder of a British soldier was referred to the Court of Appeal last year is to have a number of other convictions re-examined.John McDevitt was convicted of the murder of Pte Neil Clark on Easter Monday 1984 in Londonderry.In October 2024 the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred Mr McDevitt's murder conviction to Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal following concerns about the credibility of police witnesses.On Friday his solicitor said the CCRC has now referred four further convictions to the Court of Appeal.
"These four convictions emanate from the same contested statement of admission which grounds the murder conviction," solicitor Patricia Coyle said."My client looks forward to the opportunity to present his case to the Court of Appeal after maintaining his innocence for almost 40 years."Last year the CCRC, an independent body set up under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, said after "extensive analysis" there was "a real possibility the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal will conclude Mr McDevitt's conviction is unsafe".
Pte Clark was in one of two Army Land Rovers that crashed after they were attacked with petrol bombs.He and two other soldiers were fired on as they tried to escape their vehicle.Mr McDevitt's four further convictions now referred to the Court of Appeal include two counts of wounding with intent, attempting to cause GBH with intent and possession of firearms with intent.Mr McDevitt was arrested along with seven others and charged with a total of 11 offences.They included murder, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and offences relating to the creation and use of petrol bombs.He was interviewed 23 times over the course of five days, with no solicitor present.
Disputed at trial
During the first 16 interviews he denied any involvement in the murder of Pte Clark.However it was alleged he later admitted driving gunmen to the scene of the crime. Mr McDevitt disputed this at trial.Now, his legal team said they have been told none of the original police interview notes from his time in Castlereagh can be located, or the custody record.
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South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Police come under attack for fifth night in Northern Ireland
Petrol bombs were thrown at riot police deployed in Portadown on Friday night after a senior officer said there would be 'scaled up' policing presence across Northern Ireland in anticipation of further disorder over the weekend. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the mobilisation, which would include officers sent over from Scotland, was 'to reassure our communities and protect our streets'. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill speaking during the British-Irish Council (BIC) summit at the Slieve Donard resort in Co Down (Liam McBurney/PA) Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week. The unrest and riotous behaviour spread to other towns including Larne, Belfast and Coleraine. A number of homes were targeted, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has said about 50 households have received assistance across the week, and 14 families provided with emergency accommodation. The focus of the violence shifted to Portadown on Thursday and continued on Friday – although at a lower intensity than scenes observed earlier in the week. Sixty-three police officers have been injured in the sustained disorder which led political leaders to call for calm during a meeting of the British Irish Council in Newcastle, Co Down, on Friday. A person wearing a Union flag stands near armed police in Portadown in Co Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop. 'What we have seen over the last four days has been devastation, has been horrific for those people targeted – this is women and children, these are families, at the brunt of racist, violent attacks, and it is wrong on every level,' she said. 'The whole of the Executive is united on that front.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland' with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected. Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how cooperation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'. While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However, there was still disorder in Portadown. There have also been incidents in other towns, including the burning of Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday and an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday from which a man and woman, and four young children escaped. It is being treated by police as arson with a racially motivated hate element. A police officer at the scene after an attack on Larne Leisure Centre (Liam McBurney/PA) Twenty-two police officers were injured in overnight disorder in Portadown after they came under sustained attack with heavy masonry, fireworks and beer kegs in the Co Armagh town on Thursday. A woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder in Portadown. There was also sporadic disorder elsewhere in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, following mainly peaceful protests, including in the Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast, where bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in Avoniel Road in what police have called a racially motivated attack. A small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey was also reported, and anti-immigration hate graffiti is being investigated in Newtownards. Meanwhile, a house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine which led to the evacuation of a family with three young children is being treated as deliberate and a racially motivated hate crime. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said that since violence erupted in Ballymena on Monday, 63 officers have been injured. Youths in Portadown in Co Armagh on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) Federation chairman Liam Kelly said it has been 'a week of shame with appalling levels of unrest in towns and cities'. 'Burning people out of their homes, attacking a leisure centre, and the specific targeting of individuals and property fuelled by overt racism and prejudice, is totally deplorable,' he said. 'Yet again, our overstretched police officers have also been attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks as they sought to keep people safe and maintain law and order. 'They have held the line with great courage and professionalism and are owed a debt of gratitude by this community. 'They went to the aid of vulnerable people, have prevented further savage attacks and have undoubtedly saved lives.' Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned on Thursday that his officers would be coming after the 'bigots and racists' behind the disorder. He also said that the young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting across the week.
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Police come under attack for fifth night in Northern Ireland
Petrol bombs were thrown at riot police deployed in Portadown on Friday night after a senior officer said there would be 'scaled up' policing presence across Northern Ireland in anticipation of further disorder over the weekend. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the mobilisation, which would include officers sent over from Scotland, was 'to reassure our communities and protect our streets'. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill speaking during the British-Irish Council (BIC) summit at the Slieve Donard resort in Co Down (Liam McBurney/PA) Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week. The unrest and riotous behaviour spread to other towns including Larne, Belfast and Coleraine. A number of homes were targeted, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has said about 50 households have received assistance across the week, and 14 families provided with emergency accommodation. The focus of the violence shifted to Portadown on Thursday and continued on Friday – although at a lower intensity than scenes observed earlier in the week. Sixty-three police officers have been injured in the sustained disorder which led political leaders to call for calm during a meeting of the British Irish Council in Newcastle, Co Down, on Friday. A person wearing a Union flag stands near armed police in Portadown in Co Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop. 'What we have seen over the last four days has been devastation, has been horrific for those people targeted – this is women and children, these are families, at the brunt of racist, violent attacks, and it is wrong on every level,' she said. 'The whole of the Executive is united on that front.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland' with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected. Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how cooperation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'. While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However, there was still disorder in Portadown. There have also been incidents in other towns, including the burning of Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday and an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday from which a man and woman, and four young children escaped. It is being treated by police as arson with a racially motivated hate element. A police officer at the scene after an attack on Larne Leisure Centre (Liam McBurney/PA) Twenty-two police officers were injured in overnight disorder in Portadown after they came under sustained attack with heavy masonry, fireworks and beer kegs in the Co Armagh town on Thursday. A woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder in Portadown. There was also sporadic disorder elsewhere in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, following mainly peaceful protests, including in the Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast, where bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in Avoniel Road in what police have called a racially motivated attack. A small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey was also reported, and anti-immigration hate graffiti is being investigated in Newtownards. Meanwhile, a house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine which led to the evacuation of a family with three young children is being treated as deliberate and a racially motivated hate crime. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said that since violence erupted in Ballymena on Monday, 63 officers have been injured. Youths in Portadown in Co Armagh on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) Federation chairman Liam Kelly said it has been 'a week of shame with appalling levels of unrest in towns and cities'. 'Burning people out of their homes, attacking a leisure centre, and the specific targeting of individuals and property fuelled by overt racism and prejudice, is totally deplorable,' he said. 'Yet again, our overstretched police officers have also been attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks as they sought to keep people safe and maintain law and order. 'They have held the line with great courage and professionalism and are owed a debt of gratitude by this community. 'They went to the aid of vulnerable people, have prevented further savage attacks and have undoubtedly saved lives.' Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned on Thursday that his officers would be coming after the 'bigots and racists' behind the disorder. He also said that the young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting across the week.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Chilling last CCTV sighting of Brit before he vanished from holiday Airbnb
Denis Kopanev, 33, was wearing a dark-coloured baseball cap, a white shirt, and a matching beige jacket and trousers when he left his holiday let in Rio de Janeiro on Monday A British tourist who mysteriously vanished from his Airbnb while on holiday in Brazil was last seen leaving the property on CCTV. Denis Kopanev left his accommodation on Monday and hasn't been seen or heard from since. CCTV cameras filmed him leaving the home wearing beige jacket and trousers, a dark baseball cap, and a white shirt. He also appeared to carry a small bag. The last-known footage of the holidaymaker has been since shared on social media by Brazil media. The 33-year-old, who is Russian with British citizenship, was staying at a condominium in the trendy neighbourhood of Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Friends and family members have not heard from him since Monday. Denis, who works as a financial analyst in London, was supposed to travel to São Paulo the following day to meet an American friend. They were then planning to travel together to Fernando de Noronha, a volcanic archipelago about 215 miles off Brazil's north-eastern coast. The last location on his phone was at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon near his accommodation in Rio. Denis never checked out of the property and his passport and belongings were left in the room. His disappearance was registered at the police station on Wednesday. According to his best friend Benone Moura, Denis loved Brazil and visited the country often, including as recently as six months ago. The friend said he never travelled without letting his friends and family know beforehand. Moura said he last spoke with him at around 5pm on Sunday. Family members contacted the British Embassy and filed a report, but have yet to receive any news. The case is being investigated by the Rio de Janeiro Whereabouts Discovery Unit (DDPA). Denis isn't the first Brit to go missing in Brazil in recent months. Journalist Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, was missing for four months, before she was found in a São Paulo hostel, when it was reported that she had admitted she didn't want to be in contact with her family, and the case was then closed by the local authorities. She is said to have told a pal she was in São Paulo on February 8, and planning to go to Rio de Janeiro, before her family stopped hearing from her, and quickly reported her missing. She was located by authorities using data from her phone.
