Widow's appeal over 'evil' killer

Jim McFadden was beaten to death outside his Shantallow home

The widow of a man killed outside his home in Londonderry two years ago has appealed for help in tracking down one of the people convicted of his murder.

On Wednesday two men and a woman were found guilty of murdering Jim McFadden.

Brenda Meehan and her son Sean Devenney were in court to hear the verdict, but James Meehan skipped bail and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Ita McFadden said "He is pure evil, he's out there and someone must know where he is," she said.

Mrs McFadden said her family needed Meehan to be found to get closure.

Mr McFadden, died from a ruptured heart after being attacked outside his Moyolla Drive home in Derry after he, his wife and children had attended the same wedding reception as the Meehans and Sean Devenney in County Donegal.

SDLP Foyle MLA, Mary Bradley, has appealed for people to be vigilant and cooperate with the police to track down Mr Meehan.

"James Meehan killed an innocent man and must be apprehended and brought to justice for both the good of society and in order for the McFadden's to get on with their lives and find some kind of peace," she said.

Mrs Bradley, who is a neighbour of the victim's family said the McFaddens "had been through enough turmoil since Jim's murder two years ago and they need closure".

Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney urged Meehan to hand himself in.

"It's incumbent on him as an individual to do the right thing," he said.

"On behalf of the party I want to say to people that they should have no compunction in reporting him to the police."