The family of Bradford paratrooper Lee Clegg has spoken of its relief that the last hurdle to clear his name is within reach.

Clegg's legal team will appeal against his conviction of attempted unlawful wounding with intent of Martin Peake, 17, on November 15. Martin Peake was the car driver shot dead in Belfast in 1990.

The appeal will see the conclusion of a nine-year struggle for the family of Lance Corporal Clegg, who was acquitted at a retrial in March this year of murdering 18-year-old Karen Reilly, a passenger in the stolen car, which was fired on by soldiers at an Army checkpoint.

Now his family, of Lidget Green, Bradford, say Clegg is focusing on his appeal against the unlawful wounding conviction, which they see as the last hurdle in his campaign to clear his name.

Clegg's mum Wynne Johnson, 56, said today: "This whole thing has gone on for nearly ten years now and we all want to be able to put it behind us.

"We're hoping that Lee will win the appeal and be completely exonerated of everything - this is the last hurdle he's got to get over.

"We've been getting on with things as best we can and once the appeal's finished, we'll finally be clear of the whole thing."

Mrs Johnson said it had been a difficult year for the family as Clegg's stepfather, Jack, had suffered two strokes and had recently undergone vascular surgery to combat his illness.

She also told how she has now completed 15 chapters of a book she is writing about the campaign to clear her son's name.

"The book's a mixture of things about how the family has coped with the trauma of the whole thing and what's happened in between the court cases," said Mrs Johnson.

"I've approached several publishers, although no-one seems interested in it at the moment. But I'm determined to get a copy of it finished and bound, even if it's just for myself and my grandchildren."

Clegg is now based at Catterick barracks.

His legal adviser Simon Mckay confirmed that the appeal date had been set for November 15 in Belfast.

"Lee will probably travel to Belfast for the appeal, but the issue has not been resolved at the moment," said Mr McKay.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.