Full Breakdown
Gary Anderson Absconds After Court-Ordered Compassionate Release
By Drooid · · How we work
Background and Conviction
Gary Anderson, 29, was convicted in 2023 of the 2018 stabbing murder of 35-year-old father-of-five Karol Kelly in Derry. The court sentenced Anderson to a minimum 15-year term. Kelly died in the early hours of March 4, 2018 after an altercation on Grafton Street, and both Anderson and his brother Sean were found guilty of the killing.
Court Decision and Release
Anderson’s initial request for compassionate temporary release to attend his father’s funeral was denied by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. An emergency judicial review last Sunday overturned that decision, and a judge ordered a short period of release with a civilian “chaperone” rather than a prison officer. Anderson was released on day-release on a Monday and, within hours, failed to return to his chaperone, becoming “unlawfully at large.”
Police Search and Public Appeal
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched an intensive search, describing Anderson as approximately 5 ft 11 in, slim-built, with brown hair. He was last seen in the Eastway area of the Creggan at 11 a.m. on the day of his release. The public have been specifically advised not to approach Anderson directly.
Official Statements & Responses
Detective Inspector Gareth Lavery said the police are “investigating every report” and remain grateful for information received after the initial appeal. Justice Minister Naomi Long explained that the compassionate release scheme involves a “robust risk assessment” and that the prison service had originally concluded Anderson was not safe to release. She added that the court-ordered release did not reflect a failure of the scheme and that a review of the temporary-release process was not deemed necessary.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are grateful for information received following our public appeal on Monday and we want to assure you, we are investigating every report made to us, and we are doing all we can to locate Gary Anderson,” — Detective Inspector Gareth Lavery
- “Gary Anderson absconded from a short period of leave under the Prison Service’s compassionate temporary release scheme,” — Ms Long, justice minister