Judge explains compassionate release of murderer who failed to return to NI jail
Northern Ireland's top judge has explained a court's decision to grant convicted killer Gary Anderson temporary release to attend his father's funeral, despite opposition from prison authorities.
Anderson, 29, who is one of two brothers jailed for life in 2023 for the murder of Karol Kelly in Londonderry in 2018 , failed to return to Maghaberry prison on Monday.
The prison service had refused to grant Anderson compassionate temporary release (CTR) to attend the funeral, but that was overturned by a court on Sunday.
The Office of the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ) said the court had held that the governor's decision not to grant CTR was "not substantiated by the evidence provided to the court".
The Northern Ireland Courts Service (NICS) confirmed that the judge who took the decision was Mr Justice Rooney.
"This was an individual judicial decision, and it is not appropriate for this office to make any further comment," the Office of LCJ said.
Anderson's brother Sean, who is serving 17 years for the murder of Karol Kelly, also challenged the decision not to release him from Magilligan Prison to attend the funeral, but that was upheld.
"The application was brought on the grounds that the decisions breached the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) rights of the applicants," the Office of the LCJ said.
"The court found that the decision by the governor in respect of Sean Anderson was carried out lawfully and refused the application for leave to challenge the decision."
Anderson was released from Maghaberry Prison on Monday to attend his father's funeral, but absconded from his court-approved chaperone.
It is unclear who that chaperone is or what powers, if any, were given to that person.
The funeral took place at St Mary's Church in the Creggan area of Derry on Monday morning followed by cremation in Letterkenny, County Donegal, that afternoon.
Anderson was not granted permission to cross the border to attend the cremation.
The conditions of his release, as follows, have been confirmed to BBC News NI:
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