5 days ago
Veronica Guerin killer being granted day trips out of prison every few weeks
Veronica Guerin's killer Brian Meehan is being freed from jail every few weeks, we can reveal.
Prison sources say the 58-year-old has been let out on temporary day release seven to eight times in recent months.
The day trips have been sanctioned by the new Independent Parole Board in a bid to rehabilitate Meehan back into civilian life.
It's understood he visits family and friends on each day of freedom and must return to Shelton Abbey Open Prison, Co Wicklow, where he is being detained by 7pm each evening.
It is understood he is also looking for a job and would like to work in the gardening/horticultural sector.
He is the only man convicted for the murder of journalist Veronica and has served 25 years behind bars. He was given a life sentence in July 1999. Brian Meehan of Stanaway Road in Kimmage being brought to court for his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Veronica Guerin in June 1996 (Image: Collins Photos)
Meehan, who is nicknamed The Tosser, drove the motorbike with the hitman Patrick 'Dutchy' Holland as his pillion passenger on the day Veronica was gunned down in June 1996.
Holland shot her six times at point blank range as she sat at traffic lights in her car on the Naas dual carriageway.
The hit was ordered by John Gilligan and neither he nor Holland were ever convicted of the murder. Holland later died in an English prison while serving a sentence for other offences.
The Independent Parole Board has not given Meehan a date for his release yet.
However, prison sources expect him to be freed by Christmas as his number of day releases increase.
Veronica's heartbroken family are not happy about Meehan getting back out on the streets but privately accept there is very little they can do about it.
They have continued to lobby both the Government and the Parole Board to stop it happening. Murdered Irish journalist Veronica Guerin (Image: Photocall Ireland)
But while politicians and a Minister for Justice in the past had the power to veto a high-profile criminal being freed, now they can not interfere with the Independent Parole Board's decisions.
A Government source said: 'The last thing we want is Brian Meehan being free and back on the streets but there is very little that we can do about it.
'He has done 25 years in jail and only the Independent Parole Board can decide when he gets out. The decision is out of our hands I'm afraid.'
Meehan has been ordered not to have any contact with his former boss Gilligan or any other criminals.
He now spends most of his days at Shelton Abbey playing golf on the small course at its site.
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