Manhunt for convicted murderer who has gone on the run for a third time
The on the run killer punched his victim in the chest after a wedding reception until his heart ruptured
Gardai are hunting a convicted murderer who is believed to be in the Republic after he went on the run from the North for a third time.
James Meehan (55), from Kells in Meath, murdered Jim McFadden in Derry after a wedding reception in Donegal in 2007 and was jailed in 2009 to serve a life sentence. He is now at large and the public has been warned not to approach him.
The victim’s daughters have vented their anger that their dad’s killer has been able to go on the run again.
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When he absconded two years, he evaded capture for 14 months and was finally found in the Republic and extradited to the North.
Meehan absconded from temporary release last week – sparking anger amongst the family of his father-of-four victim Jim.
Jim’s children Danielle Bradley, who was aged 15 when her dad was killed, and Ashling Graham, who was 16, witnessed his brutal murder. Today, they said they have been "failed by the justice system". Both women still have flashbacks from witnessing the murder of their father, who they described as a "gentle soul". Ashling said Meehan "should never have been let out on day release in the first place" and branded the decision as "ridiculous".
Danielle said: "I can't get my head around how they have let him out again. I feel let down by the justice system, I feel completely let down. I really can't believe we are here again."
Of the murder, she said: "It was chaotic, it was just crazy. There was roaring and shouting and then I just remember seeing my daddy lying there. I remember my mammy going over to him and saying, ‘Jim get up, the wains are watching’. But he wasn't moving. I didn't think he was dead, I just thought he was unconscious and then, I don't even know who phoned the police, I just remember the sirens."
She added: “Daddy was just always up for a laugh. We love telling our own wee children now just how funny he really was. When you have your own kids, you miss him that bit more, so it's just really hard to know they are growing up without him."
Gardai have been asked for help from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as part of the international manhunt for the convicted murderer.
Meehan failed to return to Magilligan prison to complete his life sentence, prompting the PSNI to appeal directly to him to return to custody immediately. Meehan first went on the run in 2009 when he absconded during the murder trial and was absent for sentencing before he later handed himself over to police. He absconded again in 2022 while on temporary release from prison, resulting in a warrant being issued before he was captured 14 months later.
Meehan went on the run in Donegal but was back in prison by late 2023 and was given a nine-month sentence on a conviction of being unlawfully at large. Meehan attacked Jim, who was aged 42, in Derry after they had attended a wedding reception of his victim’s sister at the Redcastle Hotel. Meehan repeatedly punched Jim in the chest and the victim died from a ruptured heart.
Derry’s former police commander John Burrows said today: "Temporary release is not a right, it's a privilege, and it has to be earnt. He has breached trust."
The PSNI said: “Meehan was on day release from HMP Magilligan on Monday, December 9, [but] has failed to return. We are appealing to anyone who has seen him, or who knows of his whereabouts, not to approach him directly but to contact police. Police would also appeal directly to James to hand himself in.” A Garda spokesperson said gardai could not comment as the case is a PSNI investigation.
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