ONE of Stockport’s most notorious murder cases could be reopened.

Thomas Bourke was convicted in 1994 of slaughtering two MOT inspectors at a garage on Chestergate, in a double shooting that shook the town to the core.

The 45-year-old was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

However, it has emerged that during his trial, a gun was planted on him while in prison - and last week the culprits, Liverpool drug barons John Hasse and Paul Bennett, were convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Now Bourke’s family say his case needs to be looked at again, because they believe the jury was swayed by the planted gun. They have been joined by Liverpool MP Peter Kilfoyle, who has followed the case for 12 years.

He told the Express he intended to argue in parliament for Bourke’s case to be reconsidered.

Mr Kilfoyle said: "I’m campaigning for a review of all the events surrounding the Hasse Bennett case - including the Bourke case. I think it’s quite logical when these two have been found guilty to consider this case again and look at it with fresh eyes. I’m aiming to remind people of the case and of the inadequacies surrounding it."

Bourke’s family say he would never have been convicted if it hadn’t been for the media frenzy that was whipped up when the gun was discovered in Strangeways, three days before the end of Bourke’s trial.

It had in fact been planted by Hasse and Bennett, who at that time were both serving sentences for possession of heroin.

But last week the pair were both jailed, after it was revealed they had conned a succession of police, customs officers, politicians and judges.

Mr Kilfoyle said he had no idea how much effect he could have on Bourke’s case for an appeal, which is currently one of many being considered by the Criminal Cases Review Board, but he intended to address a House of Commons debate on the issue on Tuesday night.

He added: "I’m not a lawyer, but what I do know is it can give added momentum to an argument that’s being made."

Bourke’s sister Jo Holt, who has campaigned for 14 years for her brother’s release, said the family would not give up trying to get an appeal.

She added: "We feel, from what we now know, that Thomas has been appallingly treated. It’s just so tragic what’s happened."