Gary Anderson: PSNI issues more recent photo of murderer who failed to return to prison following day release
Police are making a fresh appeal for information to locate a convicted murderer who remains unlawfully at large having failed to return to prison earlier this week.
Gary Anderson (29) was sentenced in 2023 to 15 years for murder and had been on temporary release from prison on Monday, September 14. He was last seen that morning, in the Eastway area of Creggan in Derry/Londonderry, at approximately 11am.
Along with his brother Sean, Anderson had been jailed for murdering father-of-five Karol Kelly in an attack in Derry / Londonderry. Mr Kelly died in March 2018 after being stabbed several times.
Police have since conducted extensive enquiries to locate Gary Anderson. These enquiries, which are ongoing, include searches, CCTV checks and patrolling. They are also liaising with An Garda Síochána.
In a statement on Friday afternoon (September 18), Detective Inspector Gareth Lavery said: “We are grateful for information received following our public appeal on Monday and we want to assure you, we are investigating every report made to us, and we are doing all we can to locate Gary Anderson.
“However, as of this time, Gary Anderson has not been located. We are issuing a more recent photo of Gary Anderson – who is approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, of slim build and with brown hair - and make a direct appeal directly to Gary to hand himself in.
“We reiterate our appeal to anyone who knows where Gary is, or indeed has any information about his movements or whereabouts, not to approach him directly but to contact police as soon as possible.
“We’re also keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the Eastway area on Monday around the time Gary Anderson is reported to have been last seen, and who may have relevant footage.”
Call 101 with information, quoting reference 555 of 14/09/26. Alternatively, information can be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100 per cent anonymous.