The brother of slain journalist Veronica Guerin says he’s had to accept that killer Brian Meehan is now in an open prison, free to play golf.
In his first comments since we published shocking photos of Meehan (55) playing pitch-and-putt on the grounds of Shelton Abbey yesterday, Jimmy Guerin said he has had to reluctantly come to terms with the difficult facts.
He told us: “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 said.
“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,” he told this paper last night.
Jimmy says it’s up to the prison service to determine what the killer is entitled to.
“This isn’t something that I want to become obsessed with. This man has caused enough difficulties in all our lives and I’m certainly not going to be following him and watching him.
“It is the prerogative of the prison service as to how they manage prisoners. It’s not for me to decide,” he said.
Yesterday we published the first public pictures of Meehan in over 15 years — showing the mobster, known as ‘Tosser’, looking relaxed as he held golf clubs outside the Co Wicklow facility.
Meehan was moved to the open prison last month after spending 22 years in jail for his role in the 1996 murder of the veteran Sunday Independent journalist.
And now it has emerged that golf isn’t the only thing Meehan can do to pass the time at Shelton Abbey in the future.
He can also work on a farm tending to a flock of hens, train to make top class coffee, or text or call loved ones on his mobile phone.
Shelton Abbey open centre in Arklow, Co Wicklow, on 25 acres of grounds with an adjoining 55-acre working farm, has capacity for 115 inmates.
Sources say Meehan now has a single bedroom within a dorm at the cushy facility.
He was jailed for life over the shocking murder and has now served 22 years in prison.
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.
