MURDERER GARY ANDERSON ARRESTED IN DONEGAL AFTER WEEK AT LARGE

Gary Anderson, who was convicted of the murder of Karol Kelly in Londonderry and jailed for life in 2023, has been arrested in the Republic of Ireland, according to the BBC. He had been unlawfully at large for more than a week before officers from An Garda Síochána detained him on Wednesday. The arrest took place at a property in Buncrana, County Donegal. Anderson had been granted temporary release from prison to attend his father's funeral and failed to return to custody afterwards. The circumstances of his time at large have not yet been detailed.

Anderson was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023 following his conviction for killing Karol Kelly in Londonderry. Temporary release schemes allow prisoners to leave custody for a limited period for specific purposes, such as attending a family funeral, before being required to return. Anderson did not return as required, prompting a search that spanned over a week and crossed the border into the Republic of Ireland. An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, located and arrested him at the address in Buncrana.

The BBC reported that the story was still being updated at the time of publication, with further details expected. It has not yet been confirmed what will happen next in terms of Anderson's return to custody in Northern Ireland or any further legal proceedings arising from his absconding. Buncrana, in County Donegal, lies close to the border with Northern Ireland, an area authorities have previously said complicates efforts to track individuals who leave custody without authorisation. No further details of the arrest operation have been released.