Drugs mule Michaella McCollum is set to work with Catholic missionaries in Peru following her surprise release from prison.
Friends last night said the Co Tyrone woman "knows she did wrong" and is determined to turn her life around after securing her freedom on parole this week.
Her mother Nora McCollum was in court to hear the news that she would be released after serving two years and three months of a sentence of almost seven years after being caught with 24lb of cocaine at Lima airport in 2013.
The Peruvian judge who granted her application was said to be impressed by her attitude and prison record, with McCollum (23) even giving evidence in fluent Spanish during the hearing.
The Irish News understands that her release is not under a new law which allows foreign prisoners sentenced to less than eight years in jail to be paroled to their home country.
Archbishop Sean Walsh of the Eastern Catholic tradition, who was in court on Tuesday to give evidence on McCollum's behalf, said the judge has ruled that she spend the rest of her sentence in Peru.
However, McCollum is free to make a fresh application under the new law after a period of time.
The court was told that Fr Cathal Gallagher, whose Columbian Fathers' Mission helps HIV+ and AIDS sufferers, is keen for McCollum to volunteer there.
The 23-year-old is reported to be "excited at the prospect".
Archbishop Walsh said she will be living with him and his wife and helping out with the church magazine.
"She has used her time in prison to learn, proactively getting educated to speak Spanish and she speaks it very, very well," he said.
"She has also learned hairdressing. She has her head screwed on right. She knows she did wrong and now wants to get her on with her life and live it properly."
