MacArthur release was ‘held up by politics’

The former governor of Mountjoy Prison has said the release of Malcolm MacArthur is “a positive step” and said it may have happened sooner were it not for political pressure.

MacArthur, 66, was granted temporary release from Shelton Abbey on Monday, with his status under rolling review by the probation service.

He had served 30 years for the violent murder of nurse Bridie Gargan in Phoenix Park in 1982. He was also charged with the shooting dead of Co Offaly farmer Donal Dunne, but that case never made it to court.