Relatives and friends of a man serving a 16 year sentence for the attempted murder of the loyalist paramilitary leader, Johnny Adair, were jubilant last night after he was granted a retrial.
The announcement of the retrial was made on the second day of Mr Stephen Larkin's appeal in the Court of Appeal against his conviction and sentence last January for a gun attack on Adair, who was later jailed for directing UFF terrorist activities.
During Monday's hearing, two witnesses said Mr Larkin, from Ardoyne, could not have been involved as he was with them in Highfield Social Club at the time of the shooting in March, 1993.
