Violent Offender Had Absconded In The Past

Concerns over Ulster’s controversial approach to fugitive prisoners increased again today after it was revealed that a violent offender went missing from jail twice in five years.

Armed robber Gerald Francis Conlon from Antrim was granted compassionate release at the weekend – despite previously absconding when on Christmas leave in December 2001.

The dangerous prisoner went on the run again on Saturday. He was returned to jail on Monday night.

However, Conlon will not be punished because prison bosses lack the powers to increase sentences.

The revelations have sparked fresh demands for the introduction of tough new policies that would ensure unlawfully at large inmates receive stiff penalties when they are finally returned to prison.

SDLP Policing Board member, Alex Attwood, said there is a gap in the system which is allowing prisoners to abscond without being punished.

“We need some sort of a process, perhaps an independent process outside of the prison authority, that can deal with this and ensure that an appropriate penalty is imposed.

“It is only a small number of people who fail to return while on home leave and it is like a breach of trust, but those who do offend put it (the home leave scheme) in jeopardy for the greater number (of inmates),” he added.

Conlon also escaped punishment when he went on the run from jail five years ago while serving a previous sentence for armed robbery.

The revelations have sparked fresh demands for the introduction of tough new policies that would ensure unlawfully at large inmates receive stiff penalties when they are returned to jail.

Currently the only punishment available to prison chiefs in Northern Ireland is to add the number of days those prisoners who are recaptured spent on the run onto the end of their early release date.

It is understood that police have the discretion to charge a prisoner who absconded with a new offence, but they rarely utilise those powers.

Conlon, serving a sentence for attempted robbery, possession of a firearm with intent and wounding with intent, went on the run on Saturday while on compassionate release. He was returned to jail on Monday night.

It is a repeat performance for the Co Antrim man who failed to return to Maghaberry Prison – where he was serving a three-and-a-half year sentence for an armed raid on Antrim Credit Union – after being on Christmas leave in December 2001. He was released under 50% remission in September 2002 before being caught re-offending.

SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood said there is a gap in the system allowing prisoners to abscond without punishment.

“We need some sort of a process, perhaps an independent process outside of the prison authority, that can deal with this and ensure that an appropriate penalty is imposed.

Currently 12 prisoners are categorised as unlawfully at large from Ulster’s jails. Two of them, Michael Teelin and Edward Hickey, have been missing since January 2001.

Concern over the lack of punishment for fugitives was sparked last month when the Belfast Telegraph revealed a dangerous robber walked free from jail weeks after being on the run. Prolific offender Robert Cowan was freed in February after 11 days on the loose.

When Cowan (53) was recaptured in January prison chiefs were powerless to punish him beyond adding eight extra days onto his early release date.