The Supreme Court is expected to hear early next year an appeal by a man, who has served 26 years of a 40-year sentence for the murder of a garda, against the rejection of his attempt to be considered for remission.
Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Susan Denham, said yesterday the appeal of Noel Callan, while it had been granted priority, was unlikely to be heard before January 2013.
Callan (48), Cullaville, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, has claimed he has unlawfully been deprived of a right of remission, which could reduce his 40-year term by up to one third. Callan was aged 22 when convicted by Special Criminal Court in December 1985 of the capital murder of Sgt Morrissey (49), at Rathbrist, Tallanstown, on June 27th, 1985, following an armed exchange at Ardee Labour Exchange.
Both Callan and Michael McHugh Clonalig, Crossmaglen, were sentenced to death for murder and 12 years for robbery but their death sentences were commuted to 40 years imprisonment.