Judge explains compassionate release of murderer who failed to return to NI jail

Northern Ireland's top judge has explained a court's decision to grant convicted killer Gary Anderson temporary release to attend his father's funeral, despite opposition from prison authorities. Anderson, 29, who is one of two brothers jailed for life in 2023 for the murder of Karol Kelly in Londonderry in 2018, failed to return to Maghaberry prison on Monday. The prison service had refused to grant Anderson compassionate temporary release (CTR) to attend the funeral, but that was overturned by a court on Sunday. The Office of the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ) said the court had held that the governor's decision not to grant CTR was not substantiated by the evidence provided to the court. This was an individual judicial decision, and it is not appropriate for this office to make any further comment, the Office of LCJ said.