The eventual return to Northern Irish prison of repeat absconder James Meehan shows it is time to “get serious” on how prisoners are assessed for pre-release.

That is the view of UUP MLA Doug Beattie, the party’s justice spokesman, after it emerged this week that Meehan – who was meant to be serving time for murder – had finally been extradited back to the Province to complete his sentence.

It was also revealed Meehan, 56, will likely now face a charge of absconding.

Mr Beattie said his case has exposed a system for handling prisoners that is “not fit for purpose”.

placeholder image — Undated handout photo issued by the PSNI of James Meehan, 56, who was convicted of murder in 2009

Meehan murdered father-of-four James McFadden, 42, in 2007 in Londonderry city.

The two had been guests at a wedding and after some dispute developed, Meehan and two others went to Mr McFadden's house and lay in wait for him returning home, then fatally attacked him.

Meehan went on-the-run one day before being found guilty of murder back at his trial in 2009.

Then he went on-the-run in 2022, when he fled while on temporary release and spent 14 months at large in the Republic of Ireland.

His most recent spell began in December 2024, when he was let out of HMP Magilligan on temporary release.

He ran away to the Republic of Ireland again, and was then brought before an Irish court in September to be extradited.

He finally appeared in Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he was sent back to jail, with judge Nigel Broderick adding: “The prosecution, in all likelihood, will issue a summons in respect of any further alleged criminal offence.”

Mr Beattie said: “The present pre-release testing is not fit for purpose and the communications with the family of Jim McFadden, who was murdered by Meehan, has been woeful.

"The family of Jim McFadden were informed by the probation board victims care unit, via the Parole Commission, that Meehan was not ready for release, yet he was allowed unaccompanied day release two months later and he then absconded to an address in the Irish Republic known by both the PSNI and the Garda.

"It is time the justice minister got serious in respect to pre-release testing and communications between her department and the victims.

"In the meantime, my thoughts are with the family of Jim McFadden, who have carried themselves with dignity and steadfastness even when they were being treated appallingly by the Department of Justice.”

Meehan is not the only killer to have absconded in recent years.

Thomas McCabe (who beat a stranger to death in 1990) has been unlawfully at large at least seven times since his conviction, the most recent time being 2023, when he spent about 14 months on the run in the Republic after being let out on temporary release.

The NI Prison Service, in a statement issued via the Department of Justice, said it “would take the opportunity to reiterate our apology to the family of Jim McFadden for any distress this has caused and to thank the PSNI for their work and support in this case”.

It added: “The justice minister has also apologised for the distress caused to Mr McFadden’s family when she met with them recently.

"On the wider issue of preparing prisoners for release back into the community – some prisoners are tested as they approach the end of their tariff to support their safe release back into the community.

"After being fully risk assessed, they begin graduated release into the community.

"The reality is that some will fail this test and will be returned to prison, while others will progress back into the community.

"Some may even fail these tests on a number of occasions.

"While this is frustrating, the only alternative is to release people without any testing and straight back into the community.

"That would only set them up for failure and put the community at greater risk.

“While understandably cases such as James Meehan receive a lot of attention, we should not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority comply with the rules and tests.

"Those people are much less likely to reoffend and create more victims, so pre-release testing is an essential part of rehabilitation.

"However, none of that diminishes the impact on victims. The small number of prisoners who abuse pre-release testing must held to account and face the consequences for their actions.

"That is why the justice minister asked the Prison Service to review what further steps could be taken to manage individuals who raise serious concerns during pre-release testing.

"This includes what can be done to strengthen the risk management for these individuals, and the sanctions they will face if they go unlawfully at large.”