THE flood of relief and the unbelievable roar from the public gallery is what Mr Colin Duffy remembers most after Lord Justice Hutton quashed his conviction for murder.
The 28 year old from Lurgan in Co Armagh had spent three years and three months in jail, convicted of murdering a part time UDR sergeant, John Lyness, who was shot dead near his Lurgan home on June 23rd, 1993.
Scenes of euphoria greeted Mr Duffy as he walked from the dock where he had sat stony faced for the appeal judgment. Scores of clapping supporters swelled around him, many in tears, others with beaming smiles and handshakes.
An elderly woman who was weeping in the huge hall outside the Court said. "Thank God somebody heard." Colin Duffy has consistently professed his innocence.
Two weeks after he was convicted in July 1995, one of the main prosecution witnesses, Lindsay Robb, also from Lurgan and a former member of the Progressive Unionist Party talks team at Stormont, was arrested on charges of gun running for the UVF. He was found guilty last December.
Two months ago the Crown decided not to rely on Robb's evidence. The remaining evidence against Mr Duffy was that of Witness B, but yesterday the appeal judge said it could not be relied upon.
Mr Duffy said the Lyness family "have suffered and are still suffering but the question is have I any responsibility for that and the answer is no. By the fact that I was charged, brought to trial and found guilty, obviously they believe that I have done it and if they still believe that there is nothing I can do about it. But I have been found not guilty and I hope they can accept that."
Speaking about how he felt when the judge quashed the conviction, Mr Duffy said. "There was a relief flooding through me and all the tension of the last three years was starting to lift. I had all sorts of different thoughts. And hearing the almighty roar in the gallery. I never heard a roar like that before in my life.
"But it was tinged with anger at the whole system and the anger and the whole frustration of bringing this to light. The system can't deal with a case like this," Mr Duffy said.
Driving from Belfast to Lurgan with his solicitor, Ms Rosemary Nelson, he saw the Maze prison. "I just thought, that's where I spent last night and that is where all my friends wished me well this morning before I went to court," said Colin.
A cavalcade of cars some be decked with Tricolours paraded through Lurgan town centre yesterday afternoon blowing their horns to announce his home coming. And when Colin stepped out of the car to see his wife Susan and seven year old daughter Katriona at his home the emotional scenes began.
"It was unbelievable. She just threw her arms around me. It is the moment, when in jail, you just always wish for," he said.
He said Ms Nelson was unstintingly committed to his case and he paid tribute to his friends and supporters. He also commended Mr Albert Reynolds for his "guts" in coming to his appeal.