Gary Anderson: Prison Service opposed release of murderer who absconded, says Long

Long said the incident was not due to an “abuse or failure” of the Northern Ireland Prison Service’s compassionate temporary release scheme.

It allows sentenced prisoners to apply for temporary release when an immediate family member has died or is critically ill.

Long said all applications were subject to a “robust risk assessment”.

Long described the court’s decision to overturn the Prison Service’s refusal and directly order Anderson’s release as “extremely rare”.

The justice minister said she had asked officials to consider how rulings of this nature could inform the operation of temporary release schemes in future.

Long said two registered victims and one registered contact in the case had been informed of the court’s decision on Sunday, before Anderson was released.

Long said they were contacted as soon as the decision was available, although she did not have exact times for the notifications.

“Understandably the registered victims are upset,” she said.

The minister said they appreciated that the decision to release Anderson had been made by the court rather than the Prison Service, but added that they were “extremely upset” both by the decision to grant temporary release and, particularly, by the fact that he had absconded.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact police.