A FORMER Tyrone teen GAA star convicted of killing his father has been released from prison to attend his brother’s wedding.
Sean Hackett was given a life sentence in 2014 for shooting his father Aloysius ‘Wishie’ Hackett twice in the head in January 2013.
The former chairman of St Macartan's GAC was shot in the driveway of the family home near Augher, Co Tyrone.
His son, who previously captained the Tyrone minor GAA team, admitted carrying out the shooting but denied murder.
A jury found him guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after acquitting him of murder.
He was told he will have to spend 10 years behind bars but this was later reduced to seven years on appeal.
Judges held that his culpability was not as high as suggested at trial after fresh medical evidence that he was suffering from a delusional disorder.
It is understood the Augher man was released on Tuesday to attend the wedding of his brother in St Davog’s Church in Dromore.
The Ulster Herald reported that he was granted temporary release after a special sitting of the High Court on Belfast on Easter Monday.
It is believed he was taken to and from the wedding Mass by prison staff at Hydebank Young Offenders Centre in Belfast, where is serving his sentence.
During Hackett's trial Tyrone manage Mickey Harte described him as a "young gentleman" and he was being monitored as a potential senior county footballer.
