Man serving 40 year sentence for garda murder applies for remission

A man serving a 40 year sentence for murdering a garda will find out whether he has won the right to be considered for remission.

Noel Callan brought a Supreme Court appeal after he lost his case in the High Court.

Noel Callan was 22 years old when convicted by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in December 1985 of the capital murder of Sgt Patrick Morrissey.

The garda was shot in Tallanstown in June of that year following an armed robbery at the Ardee labour exchange.

Callan and his co-accused were sentenced to death but their sentences were commuted to 40 years in prison.

The State said that this was on the understanding that the full 40 years would be served.

However the 50-year-old’s lawyers claim it is unfair as other prisoners sentenced for capital murder have been freed early or secured temporary release.