wanted man | 

On-the-run killer set to celebrate Christmas with his family

It looks unlikely that the 54-year-old, who went AWOL from prison in October 2022 and has recently been living in Co Meath, will be back behind bars before Christmas.

Today at 16:43

On-the-run killer James Meehan looks set to spend another Christmas with his family.

On December 8, the High Court in Dublin ordered that Meehan be extradited back to Northern Ireland to serve the remainder of his sentence for the murder of Jim McFadden in Derry in 2007.

However, it looks unlikely that the 54-year-old, who went AWOL from prison in October 2022 and has recently been living in Co Meath, will be back behind bars before Christmas.

Despite the court ruling, sources have told the Sunday World that Meehan has not yet been extradited to Northern Ireland.

When contacted this week, the Department of Justice in Dublin said that it did not comment on individual cases.

Meehan was sentenced in 2009 to life imprisonment — with a minimum of 14 years to be served — for the murder of Mr McFadden in May 2007.

The 42-year-old was repeatedly punched in the chest and died from a ruptured heart in an attack that took place after the wedding of Mr McFadden’s sister-in-law.

Mr McFadden (below) had been returning with his family from the wedding reception in Donegal, which was also attended by Meehan.

The confrontation which led to Mr McFadden’s death was said to have followed an earlier row over insults directed at the victim’s daughter.

As part of a rehabilitation process in the later stages of his sentence, Meehan had been allowed to reside at a Limavady address from Friday to Sunday each week under a curfew of 10pm to 7am, but was forbidden to leave Northern Ireland without permission.

However, on October 9, 2022, after his curfew was activated, the Limavady address was visited by authorities and Meehan was not there.

Two warrants were issued by authorities in the North, with one stating that Meehan was wanted to serve out the remainder of his life sentence until parole eligibility, while the other said he was wanted for the breach of his release conditions.

Since fleeing from Northern Ireland, Meehan has been living in Kells, Co Meath.

In the High Court earlier this month, Meehan’s legal representatives argued that the punitive part of his sentence had been served and that he had actually been released from prison “on licence” when he went on-the-run.

However, a barrister representing the Republic’s Minister for Justice said the warrant stated that Meehan was sought in the North as he had been “unlawfully at large” from his “temporary release”, which contained conditions that he observe a curfew, reside at two particular addresses and not leave Northern Ireland.

“There is no affidavit evidence that he [Meehan] was on licence. It’s quite clear that he was on temporary release,” he said.

Ms Justice Melanie Greally said there was “clear evidence” that the terms of Meehan’s release from prison had been breached and ordered his surrender to Northern Ireland.

The judge ordered that Meehan be remanded on the same bail conditions for a period not exceeding 25 days pending the carrying out of the surrender order.