Gangster Brian ‘Tosser’ Meehan, who is serving life for the 1996 murder of hero crime journalist. Veronica Guerin, was recently granted a day outside the grounds of Shelton Abbey open prison in Arklow, Co Wicklow.
Meehan (55), who was moved to the relatively open facility last year, was brought to the Bridgewater Shopping Centre in Arklow earlier this month.
There, Meehan enjoyed several hours of freedom, roaming the shops and mingling with the public for the first time in 22 years.
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The infamous killer, who was part of the John Gilligan-led mob that carried out the murder of Ms Guerin at Dublin’s Naas Road on June 26, 1996, enjoyed his first taste of freedom just days before the 26th anniversary of her killing.
It is understood he remained accompanied and under the watchful eye of a prison officer throughout his day out.
And sources say Meehan is set to enjoy further days out in future – and will eventually be allowed to have entire weekends away from Shelton Abbey – should he remain of good behaviour. If Meehan is able to prove himself with courses behind bars and be of good behaviour, sources say he will eventually be completely freed.
“The days out are the start of a process that could see him be free for good,” a source said. Last year The Star revealed the first pictures of Meehan in over 20 years – showing him playing a game of pitch-and-putt in the grounds of Shelton Abbey.
The game is just one of many freedoms the killer now enjoys at the facility, where prisoners who are deemed to be of low risk are able to finish their sentence. Although the prison is deemed ‘open,’ prisoners must stay within the grounds and are not allowed to leave unless they have been granted time away.
In the case of Meehan, he is serving life – meaning even if he is ever allowed back out into the general public, he can be brought back to prison at any point if he breaches the conditions of his release. On average, prisoners serving life in Ireland will serve some 19 years behind bars.
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Speaking previously, Veronica’s brother Jimmy said he has had to reluctantly come to terms with the fact that the killer now has more freedoms.
“Look I’m aware of what the conditions are within an open prison and that and yeah of course I was disappointed that he ended up there, but that’s where he is,” he added.
“Unfortunately and hard as it is, we’ve got to accept that. You know there’s nothing in me protesting or making complaints or whatever that’s going to change that.” Shelton Abbey open centre in Arklow, Co Wicklow, is situated on 25 acres of grounds with an adjoining 55-acre working farm, has capacity for 115 inmates.
On the extensive farm, there are 250 hens being tended to by inmates. The prison sells or donates the eggs within the local community, as well as consuming them within the prison.
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Inmates can also train to be a barista on top class coffee machines in a bid to help them get a job when they are fully released. The prison provides various activities and amenities for its inmates including woodwork, arts and crafts, computers, French, English, maths, music, literacy, cookery, physical education, pottery and golf.
Inmates can even buy mobile phones through the tuck shop, for calls and texts only, in order to keep in touch with loved ones. Sources say that Meehan now has a single bedroom within a dorm at the cushy facility.
During the convicted drug dealer’s 1999 trial for the murder of Ms Guerin, the three judges at the Special Criminal Court did not recommend how many years he should serve. He was given life for the murder and a further five to 25 years for drugs and firearms charges, to run concurrently.
Meehan spent most of his time in the maximum security Portlaoise Prison before being moved to Wheatfield in 2019.
Veronica’s murder was carried out on the orders of crime boss John Gilligan. Meehan was driving and the late Patrick “Dutchy” Holland, who was later named as the shooter, fired six shots at the journalist.
Holland was never charged with due to lack of evidence but gardai named him in a subsequent drugs court case as the trigger man.
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