A convicted killer has been remanded into custody after he was extradited back to the north from the Republic.
At Craigavon Magistrates Court, James Meehan (54) was charged with being unlawfully at large on October 9 last year.
In 2009 Meehan, whose address has been given as c/o HMP Maghaberry, was handed a life sentence with an order to serve a minimum of 14 years in jail for the murder of Derry man Jim McFadden.
The 42-year-old victim was repeatedly punched in the chest and died from a ruptured heart in an attack that took place after the wedding reception of Mr McFadden’s sister-in-law in Donegal in May 2007.
According to legal proceedings in Dublin High Court where Meehan’s lawyers unsuccessfully applied for a stay on extradition proceedings, Meehan had been freed in October last year and allowed to live at an address in Limavady but warrants were issued for his arrest when he was found not to be there.
While his lawyers contended that he had been released on his lifelong licence, one of the warrants issued states that Meehan was on temporary release so when he absconded from his address, he was in fact unlawfully at large.
Meehan’s appearance at court on Friday as a result of extradition proceedings and at the conclusion of the brief hearing, District Judge Brian Archer remanded him back into custody and adjourned the case to January 15.