Holden, Liam

Liam Holden was convicted in April 1973 of the murder of a solider in Belfast in September 1972 and for possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent. Mr Holden was sentenced to death, commuted to life imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in September 2002.

The case against Mr Holden had depended decisively on alleged admissions to guilt he had made to the army and police.

The defence had applied to have these admissions excluded from evidence on the basis that they had been obtained by oppression resulting from Mr Holden’s treatment whilst in the custody of the army.

The trial judge found the admissions to be admissible.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that new evidence, in addition to the circumstances of Mr Holden’s arrest and detention, meant there was a real possibility the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal would find that the admissions should not have been admitted.

Consequently, there was a real possibility the court would find Mr Holden’s conviction unsafe.

The CCRC referred the conviction in July 2009.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in June 2012.