Thai amnesty to allow release of Irishman convicted of murder

An Irish man, who is serving a jail sentence in Thailand over the death of a business associate, is expected to be released in the coming week.

Colin Martin, originally from Carrickmacross in Monaghan, is one of 900 foreigners to be freed as part of an amnesty to mark the Queen's birthday.

Martin was originally sentenced to 20 years for the killing of a New Zealand national in 1997. His release follows a five-year campaign by his family and supporters.

Mr Martin has maintained that police tricked, tortured and threatened to kill him to extract a confession.