Northern Ireland

Convicted murderers unlawfully at large

Stephen McParland and Alison McDonagh unlawfully at large
Stephen McParland and Alison McDonagh unlawfully at large Stephen McParland and Alison McDonagh unlawfully at large

AN appeal for information on a man and woman convicted for murder has been made by the NI Prison Service after they absconded.

Stephen McParland (54) and Alison McDonagh (49) are believed to be in each other's company and have been urged to hand themselves in to police.

A PSNI spokesperson said the pair had been spotted at Belfast's Lanyon Place train station on Saturday January 21 at around 1.45pm.

McParland, who was jailed for the murder of a 33-year-old man in 1997, is described as being around 5’ 10” tall and of medium build with blue eyes and balding, dirty-fair hair.

The pair were spotted last Saturday at Belfast's Lanyon Place train station.
The pair were spotted last Saturday at Belfast's Lanyon Place train station. The pair were spotted last Saturday at Belfast's Lanyon Place train station.

He has a tattoo on his arm and was last seen wearing a black hooded coat and grey bottoms with a large amount of luggage including Sports Direct hold-alls.

McDonagh was jailed for the murder of a man in the Rathcoole area of north Belfast in 2004. She is around 5ft 2 in in height, of stocky build with auburn hair and green eyes, and has the words 'mum and dad' tattooed on her right forearm.

She was seen carrying a 'bag for life' and a trolly bag, and was wearing a blue coloured puffa jacket and light-coloured leggings.

"Despite attempts to contact both individuals, police have so far been unable to locate them," a PSNI spokesperson said as they appealed for information.