He was last seen boarding a train in Belfast.
Earlier this week it was reported that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are working with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Prison Service to locate a prisoner who is currently “unlawfully at large”.
56-year-old John Clifford had been out of custody and permitted to attend an appointment on Sunday, but then failed to return to the prison in Lisburn on Monday evening.
Clifford has been described as 1.75m tall, with a fresh complexion, medium build, green eyes and fair hair.
He was jailed for life for the murder of his eight-year-old niece Sue Ellen Clifford back in 1988. He was also convicted of other charges including cruelty to children and indecent assault.
On Wednesday, officials released CCTV footage of Clifford boarding a train at Belfast’s Lanyon Place (formerly Central) station at 1.05pm that afternoon. It is feared that he could have disembarked at any of the stops on the route, including Dundalk and Connolly Station.
Speaking to JOE, a spokesperson for the Gardai stated that “[We] can confirm that An Garda Síochána are assisting the PSNI in relation to their investigation [for] the search of a man unlawfully at large.”
Additionally, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Prison Service stated: “The Prison Service remains focused on returning him to custody and we would ask anyone with information to contact the PSNI.”
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