LAWYERS FOR the last man to be given a death sentence by a court in Northern Ireland are to seek access to previously undisclosed documents as part of attempts to overturn his conviction, it emerged yesterday. He claims water torture was used to extract a confession from him.
Liam Holden from Ballymurphy in west Belfast served 17 years in jail before applying to an independent body set up to examine alleged miscarriages of justice.
Mr Holden was convicted of murdering paratrooper Pte Frank Bell in September 1972.
The teenage victim was shot in the head while on foot patrol in Ballymurphy and died in hospital days later. Earlier this year the criminal cases review commission (CCRC) referred his conviction back to the court of appeal on the basis that it may be unsafe.
The move followed an examination of new evidence and the admissibility and reliability of confessions in the case.
Mr Holden’s legal team have told judges the issues involve a confidential annex in the documents that has not been seen by the defence.
It was confirmed in the court of appeal that an application will be made to gain access to the dossier before finalising their challenge.
A senior crown counsel also said he would be holding discussions with public prosecution service officials before proceeding.
It is expected that a preliminary hearing to deal with any public interest immunity issues will be held later this year.