On-the-run killer arrested after months at large

James Meehan was jailed for life for the murder of Jim McFadden in Londonderry in 2007

A convicted murderer who went on the run from prison in Northern Ireland for almost nine months has been arrested by police in the Republic of Ireland.

A police hunt was launched for James Meehan, after he failed to return to Magilligan Prison in County Londonderry, after being on day release on 9 December 2024.

Meehan was given a minimum 14-year life sentence in 2009 for the murder of father-of-four Jim McFadden in the Shantallow area of Derry in 2007.

Mr McFadden, 42, was attacked after he returned from a family wedding reception in Redcastle, County Donegal, and died from a ruptured heart caused by multiple blows to his chest outside his home.

Gardaí (Irish police) said the Garda Extradition Unit arrested a man in his 50s on foot of two extradition warrants under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement on 27 August.

He was remanded in custody by the high court in Dublin to appear again on 10 September.

Mr McFadden was attacked after attending a wedding reception in County Donegal

Meehan's failure to return from day release last December was the third time he had absconded from authorities.

In 2009, he went on the run during the murder trial and was absent for sentencing, before later handing himself in to police.

In 2022, while on temporary release from prison, Meehan left an address where he had been allowed to stay and then failed to return, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued.

He was eventually found 14 months later in the Republic of Ireland before he was extradited back to Northern Ireland and returned to jail.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it would be inappropriate to comment as the matter was ongoing.

A spokesperson said detectives continued to work closely with law enforcement partners, including An Garda Síochána (Irish police).