Lawyers for convicted murderer argue crucial fabric fibres should be re-examined

The man has spent 24 years in prison for the rape and murder of a Connemara schoolgirl in 1998

John McDonagh is now seeking to utilise advances in technology and developments in expert knowledge to try to establish that his conviction was unsafe and demonstrate that there has been a miscarriage of justice in his case. File Picture: Courtpix

Lawyers for a 51-year-old man who has spent 24 years in prison for the rape and murder of a Connemara schoolgirl have told the Court of Appeal that clothing fibres that helped to convict him should be re-examined using recent advances in technology.

They also told the court that their application to have certain trial exhibits undergo forensic testing and examination, in light of technological advancements in the intervening years, is ground that hasn’t been “traversed before”.