« Back to 2000 News Archive

Cleared of Murder

JUST HOURS after the Court of Appeal in Belfast cleared him of murder, Glasgow man Iain Gordon visited the 'Free Press' office in Stranraer.

And he praised lawyer Margo Harvey for what she had done to persuade the court to clear his name of a murder he was convicted of nearly 50 years ago.

"I don't think any praise is too high for Margo" he told the 'Free Press' in an exclusive interview.

And he pledged that all the work she has done on his behalf, so far without payment, will be rewarded out of any compensation package he receives.

Wednesday was a long day for the group. An early morning Stena sailing got them to Belfast ready for the court hearing then it was back to Stranraer. On Wednesday night, Mr Gordon and the group had a celebratory drink in The Grapes pub. And on Thursday morning he visited the 'Free Press' office to thank the newspaper for the publicity given earlier this year when the Appeal Court indicated the conviction was to be overturned with written findings later.

He said " I was determined I would keep on going until my name was cleared. But I could not have done it without Margo, Andrew Nicol and investigative journalist John Linklater".