A FORMER RUC constable cleared on appeal of murdering his wife and father in law has won the first round in his legal battle to stay in the force.
Mr Alan Anderson (37), was granted leave in the High Court in Belfast yesterday to apply for a judicial review of the Chief Constable's decision to dismiss him. However, Mr Justice Kerr said it should be clearly understood that his decision was no more than an acknowledgment that Mr Anderson had an arguable case.
"Most, if not all, of the grounds on which he is seeking relief seem at least controversial and quite possibly extremely difficult," the judge said.
Mr Anderson was dismissed from the RUC three months after being cleared in the Appeal Court of murdering his estranged wife, Judith (36), and her father, the Rev Eric Davidson (74), whose bodies were found in their fire damaged home at Cookstown, Co Tyrone, in December 1992.
He was convicted by a majority verdict at his second trial after the jury at the first disagreed.
Mr Anderson was not in court to hear his lawyer say that his primary intention was not to seek compensation but to remain in the RUC.
"The very least Anderson was entitled to was a hearing before he was notified that his duty had been terminated in the interests of the efficiency of the force. A hearing would have given him an opportunity to meet whatever case was being made against him, his lawyer added.