Police are hunting the killer of a female PSNI officer after he went on the run while on temporary prison release.
Shane Frane, originally from Limerick, may have fled to the Republic instead of returning to prison, the PSNI said.
Frane (36) is serving an indeterminate sentence for the February 2013 manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds.
Constable Reynolds, a 27-year-old former teacher who joined the police two years before her death, was killed after a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser Frane was driving smashed into her unmarked vehicle. Two other officers were injured.
Police said Frane, convicted in 2014 and sentenced to a minimum of six years, absconded while on temporary release.
“Frane is described as being 6ft 3ins in height, of medium build with blue eyes with a left eye disfigurement,” police said.
“Despite attempts to arrest Frane, police have been unable to locate him. He may have travelled to the Republic of Ireland.”
Officers hunting Frane, a serial criminal prior with 77 convictions in the Republic and 20 in the north prior to his manslaughter conviction, are appealing for any information on his whereabouts to contact police, but not to approach him.
Frane, in late 2022, lost a High Court legal action attempting to force the Parole Commissioners to advance his release.
Commissioners refused to direct his release, ruling they could not be satisfied his imprisonment was no longer necessary to protect the public from serious harm.
Mr Justice Michael Humphreys said there was no breach of his human rights and noted his misconduct, notably failed drug tests.
Judge Humphreys said: “His own misconduct, in the form of failed drugs tests, is the reason why his progress in this area was derailed. Both in May and October 2021 the applicant failed tests.”
Frane and a passenger, then 24-year-old Conor Clarence, went on a drink and drugs binge prior to the crash that killed Ms Reynolds, the trial court heard. Clarence was sentenced to 21 months.