Boyle, John

John Boyle was convicted in November 1977 of possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life and membership of a proscribed organisation. Mr Boyle received a sentence of ten years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in December 1999.

The principal evidence against Mr Boyle at trial had consisted of a confession statement.

This statement was said to have been made in Mr Boyle’s fifth police interview as recorded in the notes of two police officers who stated that the notes were contemporaneous and true.

Mr Boyle contested the authenticity of the confession statement.

During review, the CCRC obtained new expert electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA) evidence which indicated that there had in fact been an earlier version of the fifth interview recorded in the notes.

The CCRC referred the conviction in April 2001.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in April 2003.