Prison service funded convicted killer's escape in Ireland

Convicted killer James Meehan was able to escape from prison after officials mistakenly allowed him to withdraw all the money from his prison account. Meehan, who is 55 years old and from Derry, cleared out around £200 from his account just before a scheduled day release, which raised concerns among prison staff. Prison sources revealed Meehan packed his belongings before leaving, even though he was supposed to return the same day. This behavior should have alerted security staff, especially since he was a known flight risk. He had previously escaped from prison after crossing the border, and officials should have been more vigilant. Meehan was serving a life sentence for the murder of Jim McFadden, a popular local man, back in 2007. He has been missing for about 15 weeks and was recently spotted living openly in Kells, County Meath, where he has been seen drinking and shopping. Reports suggest that Meehan received special treatment in prison because of his work as a handyman, which saved the Prison Service money. He reportedly constructed various facilities inside the prison and was well-regarded by the staff. After this incident, the prison has tightened security measures. New protocols require staff to check any withdrawals over £50, ensuring that the reasons for the money are verified. Despite these efforts, the risk remains, as some prisoners have been known to misuse their funds for negative purposes. The family of Jim McFadden expressed their concerns about Meehan's day release, stating they had previously objected to granting him such privileges. The Prison Service acknowledged that managing prisoner releases can be complex and sometimes leads to poor decisions, but emphasized the ongoing challenge of handling many individuals in and out of the system.