Patrick McKinney

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In March 1974, Constable Thomas McClinton was checking cars for bombs in Donegall Street, Belfast. His killers approached him from behind and shot four times into his head and chest.

On 24 October 1979, William Gorman was arrested. He was interviewed 11 times between 24 and 26 October 1979. According to police testimony, Mr Gorman confessed. In his confession, he also named Patrick McKinney. Mr McKinney was Mr Gorman’s brother-in-law. Mr McKinney was 17 at the time of the murder.

He was interviewed nine times from 27 to 29 October 1979. At his seventh interview, he was said to have confessed.

Mr Gorman stated he only signed the confession after a beating. A doctor’s note from the time lists bruising and cuts. Mr McKinney also alleged being beaten by his interviewing officers.

The CCRC referred their convictions in August 1998 on the basis that electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA) evidence revealed that the officers who had interviewed the men had rewritten the interview notes.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in October 1999.

View Press (www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk)

View Press (www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk)

View Press (www.theguardian.com)

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