Fermanagh MLAs have condemned the seven-month delay in a public appeal for information about a prisoner who failed to return to Maghaberry Prison after being granted compassionate leave.

Patrick McDonagh, 37, from Fermanagh, has been unlawfully at large since March 12, when he did not return to HMP Maghaberry. He was on remand awaiting trial for blackmail and money-laundering offences under the Serious Crime Act 2007.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) this week confirmed McDonagh remains at large despite extensive efforts to locate him, and issued an appeal to the public for information. However, the appeal came more than seven months after his disappearance.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine described the timing of the appeal as "astonishing" and said the public deserves answers about the circumstances of his absence. She questioned why there had been no earlier public notification and noted that McDonagh's name does not appear on the Department of Justice's published list of unlawfully at large prisoners.

Mrs Erskine called on Justice Minister Naomi Long to explain how compassionate leave decisions are made for remand prisoners, why McDonagh failed to return, and why it took so long to inform the public.

Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan said the news was shocking and appealed to anyone with information about McDonagh's whereabouts to contact police. She also raised wider concerns about the framework for granting compassionate leave, referencing the recent abscondment of another prisoner, Gary Anderson.

Police have asked anyone who has seen McDonagh or knows where he is to contact them on 101, quoting reference 1147 12/03/26. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

McDonagh had been granted compassionate leave on March 12 while on remand. Efforts to trace him have been unsuccessful to date.