MacArthur released 30 years after the murder that shocked the nation
The 66-year-old, one of the State’s longest-serving prisoners, left Shelton Abbey on Monday after being approved for reviewable temporary release under the supervision of the Probation Service.
In a case that shocked the nation, MacArthur was arrested at the home of attorney general Paddy Connolly in Aug 1982 — and the crime and its aftermath was described immortally by then taoiseach Charles Haughey as “grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented”.
The Department of Justice said the families of MacArthur’s victims have been informed of his release.
“The minister was at all times conscious of the dreadful events of 1982 and of their impact on family members,” the department told RTÉ’s Prime Time.
“As with any prisoner on temporary release, there were a number of conditions attached to the programme approved by the minister. The Probation Service closely supervise and monitor those conditions and, if there was any breach, he could be returned to prison.”
MacArthur had also been charged with the killing of Co Offaly farmer Donal Dunne, who was shot with his own gun near Edenderry.
The DPP decided not to go ahead with the prosecution after MacArthur pleaded guilty to Ms Gargan’s killing.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
