Garda killer seeks release

A man who has spent decades behind bars for the murder of a Garda sergeant has brought a High Court action which, if successful, would result in his immediate release from prison.

Michael McHugh, who shot Sgt Patrick Morrissey dead following an armed robbery in 1985, was initially sentenced to death for the murder in December of that year. That sentence was later commuted to 40 years’ penal servitude.

McHugh has served his sentence at the maximum security Portlaoise Prison.