CONVICTED Garda killer Pearse McAuley has been released from prison after serving seven years for stabbing his ex-wife, Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully.
The Co Tyrone man was freed from Castlerea prison this morning and reportedly came out wearing a face mask, sunglasses and baseball cap and carrying a holdall bag.
It is understood he was collected by a Northern Ireland registered car.
McAuley, who is originally from Strabane, was sentenced to 12 years with four years suspended in 2015 for the attack on Ms Tully, stabbing her 13 times.
It happened on Christmas Eve in 2014 at the family home in Kilnaleck in Co Cavan in front of their two boys, aged seven and four, at the time.
McAuley pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, producing a knife and causing serious harm to Ms Tully.
McAuley has previously been jailed for his involvement in a botched robbery in which Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was shot dead.
Ms Tully, a Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan, said she hopes he has moved on with his life and leaves her family alone.
"I’m determined that I and my children will just get on with our lives as normal," she told the Irish Mirror.
"I presume that he will leave us alone according to the terms of the barring order that’s in place and my life and the life of the boys won’t be affected in any way.
"I am determined that my life won’t change, and we’ll get on with our lives and that he will do the same. He has infringed on it enough."
