Fugitive killer surrenders to PSNI

A murderer who skipped bail before his guilty verdict was delivered handed himself to police in the North today.

James Meehan went on the run on Tuesday, a day before he, his wife and her son were found guilty of murdering Derry man James McFadden outside his home two years ago.

Before today Meehan had opted to evade police, leaving Brenda Meehan and Sean Devenney to face up to life behind bars.

Detectives had issued an appeal for his whereabouts and were liaising with the Gardaí, but Meehan today handed himself in at a Derry police station.

Mr McFadden died after being attacked outside his Moyolla Drive home after he, his wife and children had attended a wedding reception in Co Donegal at which the Meehans and Sean Devenney were also guests.

In the wake of the guilty verdict, his widow Ita appealed for help finding the killer.

“He is pure evil,” she said. “He’s out there and someone must know where he is.”

Tonight the McFadden family and police thanked the public for the support they said they had shown for the appeal for information on the case.