Michael Devine, now 58, was convicted in Belfast Crown Court in February 1981 of 10 offences including attempted murder, firearms offences, conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, and membership of a proscribed organisation.

Mr Devine pleaded not guilty at trial but was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. He began appeal proceedings later that year but abandoned the appeal before the case was heard.

However, he applied in 2014 to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which decided last April to refer his case for appeal “based on the cumulative weight of a number of new factors”.

The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, confirmed after a short hearing that the appeal will be allowed, though the full written judgment will be delivered at a later date, The Irish News reports.

Solicitor Joe Rice, representing Mr Devine, said: “Mr Devine’s good character has now been restored. He is now considering his legal options, but we wait with interest for written reasons why the convictions were quashed.”