Double killer John Gallagher could be released within “a few weeks” Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said today.
Gallagher, from Lifford, Co Donegal, was found “guilty but insane” of the murder of his girlfriend Anne Gillespie (18) and her mother Annie (51) in the grounds of Sligo General Hospital in 1988, after learning she wanted to end their relationship.
Gallagher who handed himself in earlier this month to the Central Mental Hospital is likely to apply to a Mental Health Review Board for release within the next few days, Mr Shatter said today.
“It is possible he could be released within a few weeks, within a few months. I don’t know what decision the Heath Review Board will take in regards his current mental health, it’s not something I would be qualified to make an assessment on nor would it be appropriate.”
The possibility of Gallagher’s release has been explained to the Gillespie family, according to Mr Shatter, who was speaking ahead of the annual conference of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes at Dublin Castle.
“He is entitled to apply, as is any other patient in the Central Mental Hospital to the independent Mental Health Review Board for release. Under that statutory provision they make that decision based on an assessment of his mental health,” Mr Shatter said.
Any decision about Gallagher’s release will be made on the grounds of if he posed a risk to himself or the community and on his current mental health, Mr Shatter said.
Gallagher, who absconded from the Central Mental Hospital in July 2000 and fled to England, handed himself in by appointment earlier this month.