John McDevitt, 61, claims he was coerced by police officers using oppressive interview techniques into making a false confession to the killing of Private Neil Clarke in the city.

Following a two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan pledged to give a ruling on the challenge as soon as possible.

Private Clark was shot dead after he exited a military Land Rover attacked by petrol bombs in the Bishop Street area of Derry on Easter Monday back in 1984.

Police later arrested Mr McDevitt along with seven others and questioned him at the Castlereagh detention centre in connection with the killing.

He was interviewed 23 times over the course of five days, according to his lawyers.

Despite challenging the evidence against him, he was ultimately convicted of murder following a trial in 1986.

Guilty verdicts were also returned on other charges related to the same incident, including wounding, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing firearms with intent.

Mr McDevitt spent 12 years in prison but has always maintained his innocence.

In 2024 the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred his murder conviction back to the Court of Appeal on the basis that some officers involved in taking the disputed admission statement were discredited in separate proceedings.

Four further convictions were also sent back for re-examination.

Counsel for Mr McDevitt contended it was a false confession following coercive and oppressive methods of police questioning.

RUC officers were verbally aggressive and threatened him with “terrorist-type interrogation” which he interpreted as implying physical violence would be used, the court heard.

It was also claimed that one of the officers brought a gun into the interview room in breach of a strict prohibition.

Dessie Hutton KC argued that his client gave explanations for how his story evolved during the process.

Mr McDevitt accepted early on that he had been involved in collecting and transporting sweet jars for use as petrol bombs, the court was told.

But he repeatedly denied moving any gunmen in connection with the shooting, only relenting after being subjected to 15 or 16 interview sessions.

“Immediately after he got out of Castlereagh he was protesting his innocence and retracting those statements,” Mr Hutton said.

“He has maintained that retraction for over 40 years and actively sought to overturn it.”

Senior prosecutor Ciaran Murphy KC stressed how the trial judge had rejected Mr McDevitt’s explanation and account of alleged threats made against him.

“He found, justifiably, repeated dishonesty and accepted the confession,” Mr Murphy said.

The Lady Chief Justice, sitting with Lord Justice Colton and Mr Justice Fowler, reserved judgment following closing legal arguments.

Dame Siobhan said: “We will consider all that has been said and will provide a ruling in this case as soon as possible.”