Convicted murderer Gary Anderson has been arrested in Buncrana, Co Donegal, at around 2pm on Wednesday, 23 September, after being unlawfully at large for more than a week.
Anderson failed to return on 14 September after being granted compassionate release to attend his father’s funeral in Derry. The PSNI has been working with authorities to return him to custody, TheJournal.ie reported. Police had previously renewed their appeal to locate him; the earlier appeal for Gary Anderson set out the search in Derry.
Murder conviction
Anderson is serving a life sentence for the murder of Karol Kelly in Derry in March 2018. Gary Anderson and his brother, Sean, were convicted after Mr Kelly was stabbed in the Grafton Street area of the city.
Gary Anderson was given a minimum 15-year term, while Sean Anderson was given a minimum 17-year term, The Irish News reported. Gary Anderson is being held at Maghaberry Prison.
Prison authorities had refused his application for temporary release, but a court later ordered that he should be released, Derry Daily reported.
Arrested in Buncrana
Anderson was last seen in the Eastway area of Derry before he failed to return to custody. Detective Inspector Gareth Lavery thanked members of the public and An Garda Síochána for their assistance.
“The arrest follows an operation planned by Gardaí,” police said, with the action carried out under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, TheJournal.ie reported.
DI Lavery said: “I would like to thank the public and Gardaí for their assistance.”
Questions remain over temporary release
Justice Minister Naomi Long welcomed the arrest, while acknowledging the anxiety experienced by the Kelly family. She has called for an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the temporary release.
The arrest brings the search to an end, but questions remain over the decision to grant the release. The circumstances are expected to face continued political scrutiny as the examination continues.
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