NI: Convictions from 1970s unsafe where young men interrogated in breach of Judges’ Rules

Appeals by way of reference from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) pursuant to the powers contained in Part II of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 – appellants were arrested and interviewed during the 1970s under the emergency provisions legislation then in force – statements of admission which were subsequently relied upon at their trials and formed the decisive evidence against them – age of appellants at the time – access to a solicitor during their detention before making their admissions – not accompanied by a parent or independent person during interview – breaches of the Judges' Rules – admissibility and unreliability of admissions – legal principles governing the admissibility of confessions at the time of trial – admissible at common law if it is free and voluntary – Lord MacDermott in an address to the Bentham Club in 1968 – RUC Code (1974) Edition – section 52(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 –The Diplock Commission – Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 – section 8 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 – safety of convictions.