The family of murder victim Karol Kelly have requested a meeting with Northern Ireland's justice minister after his killer, Gary Anderson, failed to return to prison while on compassionate temporary release. Anderson, 29, was granted release from Maghaberry prison on Monday to attend his father's funeral in Derry, but absconded from his court-approved civilian chaperone.

Gary Anderson is serving a 15-year sentence for the murder of Karol Kelly, who died after being stabbed in the Grafton Street area of Derry in 2018. Anderson's brother Sean is serving 17 years for the same murder. The prison service initially refused to grant temporary release to attend the funeral, but that decision was overturned in court on Sunday.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan met the Kelly family on Wednesday and said they were distressed, annoyed and frustrated. He said the family only became aware of Anderson's pending release after it had already happened.

Durkan has written to Justice Minister Naomi Long requesting that she meet the Kelly family. He said there were huge questions about how the release was approved and managed, including the role of the civilian chaperone and how the family were informed as victims.

The Office of the Lady Chief Justice said the court held that the governor's decision not to grant compassionate temporary release was not substantiated by the evidence provided. William McKee, a former governor at the Maze Prison, said governors are not legally trained and depend on legal advice when making submissions to courts. He maintained the governor was right in his initial decision to refuse release.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said she believed the prison service had reached the right conclusion, but noted Anderson had rights and was able to exercise them. She said the majority of prisoners on short-term release return to custody, but described Anderson as a threat to the public and potentially at risk. She urged him to hand himself in.

Police and the Prison Service have appealed directly to Anderson to surrender, and the public have been advised not to approach him.