Convicted Murderer Escapes for Second Time

James Meehan, a 55-year-old convicted murderer serving a life sentence, is currently at large after absconding for the second time. Meehan was found guilty in 2009 of the murder of Londonderry resident Jim McFadden. Authorities initiated an appeal on Friday evening to locate Meehan, who did not return following a period of day release from HMP Magilligan. This marks the second instance of Meehan absconding; in 2022, while on leave from prison, he departed from a Limavady address where he had been permitted to reside and subsequently failed to report back. He was later apprehended by authorities in the Republic of Ireland, extradited to Northern Ireland, and returned to custody. Law enforcement officials urged anyone who has sighted Meehan or possesses knowledge of his current location not to approach him personally but to contact the police. An appeal was also made directly to Meehan to surrender himself.