A convicted child killer was arrested in Newry last week after being escorted over the border by Irish police. John Clifford was arrested on Monday last (September 10th) after a week on the run from authorities.
The 56-year-old was jailed in 1989 for the rape and murder of his eight-year-old niece Sue Ellen Clifford. He had been released from Belfast’s Burren House unit for prisoners approaching the end of their sentences on Sunday September 2 to attend an appointment but failed to return when expected.
Police said he was spotted boarding a train to Dublin at Belfast’s Lanyon Place Station, after he abandoned a mobility scooter there.
During his time on the run, sightings of him had been made in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, and in Dublin city. It is understood Clifford was spotted by locals at a homeless charity near the seafront in Bray, Co Wicklow, on Monday afternoon. Gardai were called and the abuser was driven to the border by Irish police and handed over to PSNI officers who arrested him at around 4.25pm in Newry.
Clifford, who is also serving time for convictions including cruelty to children and indecent assault, was returned to prison following his arrest.
In 1988 he had been trusted to babysit his eight year old niece in her north Belfast home. He sexually assaulted and strangled her before dumping the child’s body on a railway line. The trauma caused her mother Martha Adair to take her own life less than two years later.
It was revealed last week that the killer was previously released to a secret location in 2005, but was returned to prison after breaching the terms of his probation.
Detective Inspector Michael McDonnell thanked An Garda Síochána colleagues for their assistance in locating Mr Clifford and facilitating his return to Northern Ireland.
“I would also like to thank those members of the public who contacted us with information and the media for their assistance in publicising our appeals for information,” he added.