Murderer uses birth of baby to seek early release

CONVICTED murderer Sean Courtney fathered a child while on day release visits to his partner and now wants a date set for his release.

Courtney has been allowed out on temporary release during festive periods for the last three years. He is currently in Loughan House open prison in Co Cavan where he is serving a sentence for the murder of Patricia O’Toole, 32, who died in the Dublin mountains after he hit her with a rock in 1991.

While in prison Courtney struck up a pen-pal relationship with a 33-year-old woman who give birth to a child late last year and registered Courtney as the father on the birth certificate.