appellant

He said: "In the light of that evidence, it is impossible to regard the appellant's conviction as safe."

After another brief exchange of words, the appellant participated without further incident in the flag-raising detail.

In hearing arguments from the appellants, the judges focused heavily on what remedy they could even provide Riggs and the state board should they rule to move the case back into federal court.

The Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said that argument failed because the officers in question were not involved in all three of the appellants' cases.

"Nothing in this judgement should be taken in any way to detract from the gravity of the offences committed by this appellant," they said.