Gary Anderson remanded at Letterkenny District Court after escaping Maghaberry Prison
Gary Anderson, 29, absconded on 14 September 2026 while on temporary release from Maghaberry Prison to attend his father's funeral in Derry, and was last sighted in the Eastway area. Anderson and his brother Sean Anderson were found guilty in 2023 of the murder of Karol Kelly, a father of five, who was stabbed to death on Grafton Street, Derry, in March 2018. After more than a week on the run, Anderson was arrested by An Garda Síochána at Fahan Marina campsite in County Donegal on 23 September 2026 and charged with escape from custody. He was remanded in custody at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 24 September, with proceedings adjourned for a videolink appearance on 28 September.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested23 Sep
2 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court24 Sep
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gary Anderson, 29, was granted temporary release from Maghaberry Prison on 14 September 2026 to attend his father's funeral in Derry and failed to return.
- Anderson was last sighted in the Eastway area of Derry.
- Anderson and his brother Sean Anderson were found guilty in 2023 of the murder of Karol Kelly, a father of five, who died on Grafton Street, Derry, in the early hours of 4 March 2018 after being stabbed several times during an altercation.
- Anderson was sentenced in 2023 to 15 years for the murder, though one source describes the sentence as life.
- Where
- Anderson was arrested at Fahan Marina caravan campsite in Fahan, Buncrana area, County Donegal, by An Garda Síochána shortly before 2pm on 23 September 2026.
- Cause
- Karol Kelly was stabbed several times during an altercation.
- Investigation
- The arrest was part of a planned Garda operation, and PSNI officers conducted extensive inquiries to locate Anderson.
- 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
- Anderson appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 24 September 2026, where no bail application was submitted and Judge Emile Daly adjourned proceedings for a videolink appearance on 28 September 2026.
- Sentence
- Anderson was remanded in custody pending DPP directions.
- Other details
- Justice Minister Naomi Long announced an independent review of the temporary release and a personal apology to the Kelly family.
31 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)
- whereHe was arrested at a property in the Buncrana area of County Donegal by An Garda Síochána (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGary Anderson had last been seen in the Eastway area of Derry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereKarol Kelly died on Grafton Street, Derry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGary Anderson was arrested at a property in the Buncrana area of Co Donegal. (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)
- whenThe arrest took place shortly before 2pm on 23 September 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGary Anderson absconded on 14 September. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrest took place shortly before 2pm on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- causeKarol Kelly was stabbed several times during an altercation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPSNI is working with relevant authorities to return Gary Anderson to custody (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationPSNI officers conducted extensive inquiries to locate Gary Anderson. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda spokesperson confirmed the arrest was part of a planned operation. (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)
- 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)
- 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)
- otherGary Anderson and his brother Sean were jailed for life in 2023 for the murder of Karol Kelly in Derry in 2018. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Sep2026Escaped 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 - 23 Sep2026Convicted 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.
victim, Karol Kelly, male, non-irish (judged from name)Karol Kellysuspect, Gary Anderson, 29, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Gary Anderson - 23 Sep2026Major 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