Derry man John McDevitt has 1984 soldier murder conviction upheld

Derry man John McDevitt has had his convictions for murder and firearms charges upheld in the Court of Appeal in Belfast this morning.

His appeal against the convictions relate to the 1984 Easter Monday killing of British soldier, Private Neil Clarke in Bishop Street in the city.

The Appeal, which opened on Wednesday, June 18, 2026 and finished on Thursday, June 18, 2026, was heard by Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan, Justice Adrian Colton and Justice Stephen Fowler.

The judgement was delivered on Friday morning (September 11, 2026) by Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan.

Mr McDevitt was supported in court by his mother, members of his wider family and friends; and Tony Doherty (Bloody Sunday Trust); Foyle SDLP MP Colum Eastwood; Derry City and Strabane District councillor Brian Tierney; and Desy Clayton from the Pat Finucane Centre.

Speaking after the Appeal Court judgement upheld his convictions, John McDevitt said: “While I am disappointed with the Court of Appeal decision today, I am not deterred in my campaign to clear my name. I maintain my innocence in relation to this murder conviction and the other four offences including wounding of other soldiers. I maintain that the false confession used for the murder conviction was obtained using oppressive and coercive interview techniques by interviewing detectives. I never at any time transported either guns or gunmen to the scene. I will continue in my pursuit of justice until I am vindicated.

“It is therefore my intention to go back to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for a third time. I want them to look at, in particular, the involvement of MI5, military intelligence and the role of the state agent Frank Hegarty in relation to the guns used to kill Private Neil Clarke and wound the other soldiers. This aspect of the police investigation/prosecution case against me which underpins the five convictions has never been fully explored, either by the police, the Prosecution Service, or by a court,” added Mr McDevitt.

“I am also aware that even as late as Tuesday of this week, a few days before this appeal decision, the PSNI confirmed that they had uncovered further complaint files against the interviewing police officers in my case. My legal team is yet to see these files. This information about the existence of these additional police complaint files was only provided some 3 months after my appeal was heard in June this year, and the judgment reserved.

“These are just two of the important issues I will now revisit and ask the Criminal Cases Review Commission to compel discovery on.

“I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank my family, supporters and legal team who have supported me throughout this appeal and indeed over the past 43 years in my pursuit for justice, and the people of Derry who have always accepted my innocence.”

SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said he would continue to support Mr McDevitt in his fight to clear his name.

Mr Eastwood was speaking following the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the convictions for Mr McDevitt's alleged involvement in the murder of a soldier in the city on Easter Monday 1984.

Mr Eastwood, who has attended court with Mr McDevitt throughout the case, said: “Today’s verdict is extremely disappointing for John McDevitt, who has fought for 43 years to clear his name. He spent over a decade of his life in prison and, whatever today’s verdict, there remain significant questions about his conviction and the way his case was handled.

“John has already indicated that he will continue the fight to clear his name and he has my full support. I have always believed in his innocence,” he added.

“John McDevitt was just 19 years old when he was arrested and subjected to days of inhumane interrogation. Officers used intimidation to coerce a frightened young man into admitting to something which he is adamant he was not involved in. We know from other cases that this was a well-worn tactic used by the officers in question, who cared nothing for justice.

“There are also questions about the role of MI5 and state agent Frank Hegary, as well as files concerning the interviewing officers which have yet to be disclosed..

“I was proud to stand alongside John McDevitt and his family at court today. He is a man of quiet dignity, unembittered by his experience, who only wants to prove his innocence.

“Everyone in Derry that knows anything about John or this case knows that he is innocent and I hope he will take some comfort from that as he continues his efforts to clear his name through the Criminal Cases Review Commission.”