Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0250Escape from custody · Co. Donegal · 23 Sep 2026

Escape from custody case adjourned at Letterkenny court

Gary Anderson, 29, was sentenced in 2023 to life (one source reports 15 years) for the 2018 murder of Karol Kelly, a father of five, who was stabbed during an altercation on Grafton Street, Derry. Anderson was granted temporary release from Maghaberry Prison on 14 September 2026 to attend his father's funeral in Derry but failed to return and was last seen in the Eastway area. He was arrested by An Garda Síochána at Fahan Marina caravan campsite in the Buncrana area of Co Donegal on 23 September 2026 and charged with escape from custody. He appeared at Letterkenny District Court on 24 September, was remanded, and the case was adjourned to 2 November for DPP directions. His solicitor said Anderson is seeking consent to return to Northern Ireland to serve his sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested23 Sep
    2 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court24 Sep
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gary Anderson, 29, a man from Derry, was sentenced in 2023 to life (one source reports 15 years) for the murder of Karol Kelly in Derry.
  • Karol Kelly, a father of five, died on Grafton Street, Derry, in the early hours of 4 March 2018 after being stabbed several times during an altercation.
  • Anderson and his brother Sean Anderson were found guilty of the killing.
  • Anderson was granted temporary release from Maghaberry Prison on 14 September 2026 to attend his father's funeral in Derry but failed to return.
Where
He was last sighted in the Eastway area of Derry before being located at Fahan Marina caravan campsite in the Buncrana area of Co Donegal.
Investigation
Detective Garda Jason Conroy arrested Anderson at 1.44pm on 23 September 2026 as part of a planned operation by gardaí in the Donegal Division, with the PSNI working with relevant authorities to return him to custody.
Charges
Anderson was charged under Section 3(1) of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976, for being present having escaped from Maghaberry Prison, Ballinderry Upper, Lisburn, Co Antrim.
In court
  • He appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 24 September 2026, was remanded in custody, and the case was adjourned to 28 September.
  • He appeared by videolink from Castlerea Prison and Judge Emile Daly adjourned the case to 2 November for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Other details
His solicitor said Anderson is seeking consent to return to Northern Ireland to serve his sentence.
41 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGary Anderson was granted temporary release from Maghaberry Prison on 14 September to attend his father's funeral in Derry (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe failed to return to prison and was last sighted in the Eastway area (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnderson was sentenced in 2023 to serve 15 years for the murder of Karol Kelly in Derry (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKarol Kelly, a father of five, died in Grafton Street, Derry, in the early hours of 4 March 2018 after being stabbed several times during an altercation (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnderson and his brother Sean Anderson were found guilty of the killing (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe court ordered that Gary Anderson could be temporarily released with conditions attached (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGary Anderson is 29 years old (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnderson was serving a life sentence for the 2023 murder of Karol Kelly in Derry (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnderson was on temporary release from prison when he went on the run (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnderson had been unlawfully at large for over a week (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGary Anderson fled while on compassionate leave for his father's funeral in Derry in September (rte.ie)
  • whatHe was serving a life sentence after being jailed in 2023 for the murder of Karol Kelly in Derry (rte.ie)
  • whatThe 29-year-old fled while out on leave for a number of hours (rte.ie)
  • whereHe was arrested at a property in the Buncrana area of County Donegal by An Garda Síochána (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereAnderson was arrested in Co Donegal after fleeing over the Border while on temporary release from a Co Antrim prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereAnderson was last seen in the Eastway area of Derry. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereAnderson was arrested by gardaí at a property in the Buncrana area of Co Donegal shortly before 2pm on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereAnderson is originally from Derry (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereAnderson was detained at Fahan Marina caravan campsite in Fahan just before 2pm on 23 September 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHe was located by gardaí in a caravan park in Fahan on the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal on 23 September (rte.ie)
  • whenThe arrest took place shortly before 2pm on 23 September 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenAnderson was on temporary release from Maghaberry prison for his father's funeral before absconding on September 14th. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPSNI is working with relevant authorities to return Gary Anderson to custody (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe arrest was part of a planned operation by gardaí in the Donegal Division. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPSNI is working with relevant authorities to return Anderson to custody and will provide an update in due course. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDetective Garda Jason Conroy arrested Anderson at 1.44pm at Fahan Marina campsite (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAnderson was charged at 8.47pm and handed a true copy of the charge sheet (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDetective Jason Conroy arrested Anderson at 1.44pm at Fahan Marina campsite (rte.ie)
  • chargeAnderson was charged under Section 3(1) of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976, for being present having escaped from Maghaberry Prison, Ballinderry Upper, Lisburn, Co Antrim (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe charge is under Section 3(1) of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976 (rte.ie)
  • courtAnderson appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 24 September 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtNo bail application was submitted on Anderson's behalf (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGarda Sergeant Jim Collins requested Anderson be remanded in custody pending DPP directions (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Emile Daly adjourned proceedings for Anderson to appear via videolink on 28 September 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe was charged at Letterkenny District Court with being present having escaped from Maghaberry Prison, Ballinderry Upper, Lisburn, Co Antrim (rte.ie)
  • courtAnderson appeared by videolink at Letterkenny District Court from Castlerea Prison (rte.ie)
  • courtGarda Sergeant Maurice Doyle asked for the case to be adjourned until 2 November for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Emile Daly adjourned the case until 2 November (rte.ie)
  • otherGary Anderson and his brother Sean were jailed for life in 2023 for the murder of Karol Kelly in Derry in 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKarol Kelly died on Grafton Street, Derry, after an altercation in which he was stabbed several times. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHis solicitor said Anderson is seeking consent to go back across the border to serve his sentence (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Oct2026
    In courtrte.ie, its first report
    Escaped murderer wants return North to serve sentence

    Anderson appeared by videolink from Castlerea Prison; his solicitor said he is seeking consent to return to Northern Ireland to serve his sentence; Detective Jason Conroy made the arrest at 1.44pm at Fahan Marina campsite; Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle requested adjournment for DPP directions; Judge Emile Daly adjourned to 2 November.

    victim, Karol Kelly, male, non-irish (judged from name)Karol Kellyaccused, Gary Anderson, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Anderson
  2. 24 Sep2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Escaped murderer hauled before court after Donegal campsite arrest

    First court appearance after arrest; remanded in custody; adjourned to 28 September for videolink appearance; solicitor requested alternative detention facility citing 'other parties involved'.

    accused, Gary Anderson, 29, male, namedGary Andersonvictim, Karol Kelly, non-irish (judged from name)Karol Kelly
  3. 23 Sep2026
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Convicted murderer arrested in Donegal after fleeing across the Border

    Provides the arrest location (Buncrana area), the circumstances of the escape (temporary release for father's funeral, absconded 14 September), details of the underlying murder (Karol Kelly stabbed on Grafton Street, Derry, in 2018), and statements from PSNI Det Insp Gareth Lavery and a Garda spokesperson confirming the arrest as part of a planned operation.

    convicted, Gary Anderson, 29, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Gary Anderson
  4. 23 Sep2026
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Major update on murderer on-the-run after release to attend father's funeral

    Provides the arrest location (Buncrana area), the date and circumstances of the temporary release (father's funeral in Derry on 14 September), the court process that overruled the prison's refusal of leave, the PSNI statement thanking AGS, and Justice Minister Naomi Long's announcement of an independent review and personal apology to the Kelly family.

    suspect, Gary Anderson, 29, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Gary Andersonvictim, Karol Kelly, male, non-irish (judged from name)Karol Kellyconvicted, Sean Anderson, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Sean Anderson