A 16-year-old schoolgirl has been cleared of involvement in the disappearance of murdered pregnant Omagh teenager Ms Sylvia Fleming after a judge ruled her alleged confessions inadmissible as evidence. As a result of the ruling by High Court judge Mr Justice Girvan, the RUC may have to overhaul its questioning approach.
The ruling came after four days of legal argument at the Antrim Crown Court trial in Ballymena of the schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons. She was acquitted of three charges involving the disappearance in April 1998 of Ms Fleming, whose dismembered body was discovered under the foundations of a house eight weeks later. Stephen Scott was convicted of murder and jailed for life two months ago.