Convicted Derry killer admits being unlawfully at large after failing to return from prison release

A convicted Derry killer, extradited back to NI from the Republic after he absconded while on temporary day release, was handed a 12-month sentence today.

Ordering James Meehan to serve half that sentence in custody and half on licence, Judge Peter Irvine KC told the 56-year-old while he was entitled to credit for his guilty plea, “you undoubtedly had no other course but to plead.”

Last week at Antrim Crown Court, Meehan entered a guilty plea to the single charge against him, that he was unlawfully at large (UAL) on December 9, 2024.

Opening the facts of the case today, prosecuting counsel Suzanne Gallagher outlined how prison staff from HMP Magilligan dropped Meehan at the train station that morning.

The agreement was that Meehan would take the train to Belfast where he was due to meet his brother and sister, before returning to the prison before 6.30pm that evening.

He failed to return and was circulated as unlawfully at large, Ms Gallagher told the court.

CCTV evidence from Belfast City Centre captured him around Grand Central Station and the Fitzwilliam Hotel, but the barrister added that telecommunication evidence suggested he crossed the border into the Republic of Ireland around 3pm.

Garda officers were able to trace him to an address but when they spoke to him, Meehan told them he was aware he was unlawfully at large but that he had no intention of going back into Northern Ireland.

That triggered extradition proceedings, culminating in Meehan appearing in court in December 2025.

“So he was unlawfully at large for around a year,” Judge Irvine inquired and Ms Gallagher agreed he was, commenting that having been dropped off at the train station, “he was left to go about on his merry way.

The judge also heard it was the second time the extradition proceedings had to be instigated against Meehan.

At the time he absconded in December 2024, he was on licence for an earlier offence of UAL.

The lifelong licence is in place, said Ms Gallagher, after Meehan was convicted of the murder of Jim McFadden.

In 2009, Meehan was handed a life sentence with an order to serve a minimum of 14 years for the murder of Derry man Mr McFadden.

In an attack that took place after the wedding reception of Mr McFadden’s sister-in-law in Donegal in May 2007, the 42-year-old victim was repeatedly punched in the chest and died from a ruptured heart.

In court today, Meehan’s defence solicitor emphasised that he had entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity and that during the 12 months he was UAL, there had been no further offending.

Imposing the 12-month sentence, Judge Irvine told Meehan that but for the guilty plea, the sentence would have been 18 months.