A confession by Belfastman, Charles Begley, to involvement in the murder of INLA chief of staff, Mr Gino Gallagher, was forced from him, it was claimed during his trial at the Belfast Crown Court trial yesterday. Mr Justice Kerr, who adjourned the case until next Tuesday, was told that Begley (26) was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment during his police interviews at Castlereagh, his lawyer claimed.
His lawyer said he would be asking the court to exercise its statutory right to exclude the alleged confession in the interests of justice and in fairness to Mr Begley.
However, the lawyer added that his challenge to the confession cannot begin until next Tuesday when a Crown report on a medical examination carried out on Mr Begley will be available to the defence.