McCaul, Stephen

Stephen McCaul was convicted in December 1979 of hijacking, possession of firearms, carrying a firearm with intent, arson, and burglary. Mr McCaul received a sentence of three years’ detention, reduced on appeal to 18 months.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in October 2008.

Following investigation, the CCRC concluded that there had been breaches of modern standards of fairness in the investigation of the case.

The manner in which Mr McCaul was detained and interviewed involved significant breaches of the Judges’ Rules and other protections which Mr McCaul, aged 15 at the time of his arrest, should have enjoyed.

The CCRC considered that in consequence of these breaches, admissions to guilt made by Mr McCaul were unreliable and/or inadmissible.

The CCRC referred the conviction in March 2009.

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