Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SAMURAI SWORD KILLER ON THE LOOSE
Ulster fugitive hiding out in Dublin.. after being released & fined over drunken arrest
A KILLER who attacked his victim with a Samurai sword was still on the run last night.
Stephen Henry was hiding out in Dublin after being released with a fine following his arrest for drunk and disorderly.
The 41-year-old from Belfast had failed to return to Magilligan after day release earlier this week.
A FUGITIVE Samurai sword killer was on the loose last night after he was released for being drunk and disorderly.
Stephen Henry, 41, who went on the run after failing to return to Magilligan Prison earlier this week, was arrested in Dublin yesterday morning after being thrown out of a hostel and getting mugged.
He was brought to the District Court and let go after being fined £66 for a public order offence that does not carry a jail sentence.
A European Arrest Warrant had not been issued and could take a week to be put in place.
Henry, who used a Samurai-style sword in the murder of a man in 2004, did not return to the Co Derry jail on Monday after he was granted a day-release pass to visit his family.
The PSNI launched a manhunt and appealed for information into the whereabouts of the fugitive.
JAILED
Henry was jailed for killing fatherof-two John Cooke in Lisburn, Co Antrim. After failing to return to prison the police issued a statement saying he might be in Craigavon, Co Armagh, or Belfast.
However, he crossed the border on Tuesday and was picked up by gardai in South Dublin yesterday.
He was arrested at Merrion Road at 8.50am for being intoxicated to an extent he might endanger himself or any other person in his vicinity.
The offence can result in a fine of about £115 but no jail sentence.
Henry, who is described as being 5ft 10in with tattoos on both upper arms and scars on his forehead and left ear, was brought before Judge Conal Gibbons at a late sitting of Dublin District Court.
Dressed in a black tracksuit, green and white shirt, and brown shoes, with two cuts on his forehead, the Belfast man remained silent during the hearing.
Garda David Carty told the court Henry, who is of no fixed abode, had been brought to Irishtown Garda station and made “no reply when charged”.
He objected to bail, however, the judge pointed out the offence did not carry a penal sanction but only a fine, adding the High Court would not be pleased if he refused. There was no charge before the court for being unlawfully at large and the judge also said being homeless was not a reason for refusal of bail. Defence solicitor Tracy Horan said she had voiced the same concerns and agreed with Judge Gibbons. Garda Carty added contact would be made with Interpol. Judge Gibbons said he had to grant bail but because Henry had no ties to the jurisdiction he was going to require him to lodge €50 in cash. But Ms Horan told the court her client had been robbed overnight and his bag and phone were taken.
The judge heard Henry had a brother in Dublin but did not have his number.
Ms Horan argued asking for a cash lodgement was tantamount to refusing bail.
Judge Gibbons said the money would be required because Henry had no ties to the State.
This would have resulted in him being remanded in custody until the bail cash was lodged.
The defence solicitor took instructions from Henry at the side of the court and then told the judge her client was pleading guilty.
Garda Carty said he observed Henry walking on Merrion Road with no shoes on and “completely unaware where he was”. The court heard Henry was arrested for his own safety.
The judge was told the accused was serving a sentence for murder but has no previous convictions in the Republic.
Pleading for leniency, Ms Horan said Henry had been robbed on Thursday night.
She added her client had been intoxicated at the time and it was “a little bit of a blur”. Judge Gibbons gave him a €75 (£66) fine which must be paid within one month.
Henry, from Mountpottinger Road in East Belfast, was jailed for life at Craigavon Crown Court in 2006 after pleading guilty to murdering an acquaintance with a sword.
The attack on Mr Cooke, 33, took place in a house in May 2004 when he had been drinking and taking drugs with Henry before a row broke out.
The trial judge said the accused had “behaved like a savage” who had attacked the victim “as he begged for his life”.