Killer on the run captured in Donegal caravan

Gary Anderson absconded when he was releasaed for his father's funeral.

He brought into a Special sitting of Letterkenny Court yesterday to organise his transfer to prison in the north.

29 year-old Gary Anderson was sentenced alongside his brother Sean to 15 years for the murder of father-of-five Karol Kelly in 2023.

Mr Kelly's brother Paul said in the aftermath that "five children were robbed of their childhood and memories with their daddy".

Mr Kelly died in Grafton Street in the city in the early hours of March 4th, 2018 after being stabbed several times.

Anderson's capture brings an end to a major cross-border manhunt after he left prison custody.

He had been granted temporary release from Maghaberry Prison to attend his father’s funeral in Derry last week.

Both brothers had initially applied for temporary compassionate leave to attend their father’s funeral, but the applications were turned down by prison authorities.

The court service has now published the full 15 page judgement from the judicial review which details the refusal of Anderson's request taken by the duty governor at Maghaberry Prison.

A judge later found that that decision "was based upon inaccurate information which was material to the key issue of the potential risks posed by the applicant".

"The information which was considered was also materially disadvantageous to the applicant."

A scandal has now erupted over why the killer was granted such a release in the first place.

The Stormont Justice Minister, Naomi Long said she hopes the arrest "goes some way towards alleviating the anxiety and uncertainty" that Karol Kelly's family have experienced.

Long will meet the family later this week.

She added that she recognises that "questions remain about the circumstances surrounding" Anderson's release and abscondment.