Man who murdered nun released from prison

Kealen Herron, from Latton, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2003.

A Monaghan man convicted of the murder of Sr Philomena Lyons has been released from prison after serving more than 24 years behind bars.

Kealen Herron, now 45, was released from Dublin’s Arbour Hill Prison on Thursday morning. He had been serving a life sentence for the sexual assault and murder of 68-year-old Sr Philomena in the grounds of the Sacred Heart Convent in Ballybay, in December 2001.

It is understood Herron has secured employment in Dublin. He had reportedly been participating in temporary day release programmes over the past year.

Sr Philomena, a respected nun and teacher originally from Cork, had been preparing to travel to Dublin on December 15, 2001, when she was attacked. Her belongings were later found abandoned near a roadside bus stop, prompting concern.

Gardaí launched a search and discovered her body, with State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy finding that Sr Philomena had died after being sexually assaulted and strangled.

The investigation led Gardaí to Herron, then aged 19, after inconsistencies emerged in statements he provided. Fingerprint evidence also linked him to the scene, and he later admitted the crimes.

Herron, from Latton, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2003.