PSNI and Gardaí join forces to find fugitive murderer Gary Anderson, 29

Gary Anderson, convicted of the 2018 murder of Karol Kelly in Derry, absconded after being granted temporary release to attend his father's funeral.

Hunt for convicted killer Gary Anderson crosses the Irish border

The PSNI is working alongside An Garda Síochána to track down Gary Anderson, a convicted murderer who fled after being temporarily released from Maghaberry Prison, independent.ie reports.

Anderson, 29, was sentenced in 2023 to 15 years for the murder of Karol Kelly in Londonderry. Kelly, a father of five, died in Grafton Street in the city in the early hours of 4 March 2018, after being stabbed several times during an altercation. Anderson and his brother Sean Anderson were both found guilty of the killing.

Both men had initially been refused temporary compassionate leave by prison authorities to attend their father's funeral. The decisions were challenged in the courts. While the refusal of leave for Sean Anderson was upheld, a court ordered that Gary Anderson could be released under conditions. He absconded on Monday morning and has not been seen since.

Anderson was last spotted at approximately 11am in the Eastway area of Creggan in Derry. Police say they have since conducted extensive inquiries, including searches, CCTV checks and extensive patrolling. Cross-border liaison with An Garda Síochána is also underway, amid concerns he may have travelled south.

Detective Inspector Gareth Lavery said officers are pursuing every lead received since a public appeal issued on Monday. "We are grateful for information received following our public appeal on Monday and we want to assure you, we are investigating every report made to us, and we are doing all we can to locate Gary Anderson," Lavery said. "However, as of this time, Gary Anderson has not been located."

Lavery appealed directly to Anderson to hand himself in, and urged anyone with information on his movements not to approach him but to contact police immediately. He also called on anyone who was in the Eastway area on Monday morning and who may hold relevant footage to come forward.

The public have been advised not to approach Anderson under any circumstances.

The Justice Committee has written to the Justice Minister and the Prison Service requesting urgent answers regarding the circumstances of the release. Justice Minister Naomi Long told the Northern Ireland Assembly earlier in the week that the decision to release Anderson had been made by the court, not by the prison authorities.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)