TWISTED nun killer Kealen Herron walked free from prison today after spending the last 24 years behind bars.
Evil Herron was just 19 when he was locked up after sexually assaulting and brutally murdering 68-year-old Sr Philomena Lyons on the grounds of the Sacred Heart Convent, Ballybay, Co Monaghan, on December 15, 2001.
It’s believed the 45-year-old, who was released from Dublin’s Arbour Hill Prison just after 10.30am today, has a job already lined up in Dublin and will not return to his native Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.
Herron, who had been enjoying temporary day release over the last 12 months, was not expected to be released until October.
A source said: “Herron got word in recent weeks that he was getting released. It was thought that he might have to wait until October.
“He will not be returning to Monaghan but is expected to stay in Dublin instead. The word is that he’s not welcome back in his old home town.
“He has a job lined up already, which was organised before he left prison.”
The source added: “Herron was able to prove over the last year that he could be trusted after being released on TR to attend a course.
“He developed a close friendship with killer David Lawler, who was released from prison earlier this year. It will be interesting to see if their paths cross again now that Herron is free.
“He is yet another high-profile killer who will be released this year. David Lawler was released in January, and the pair often accompanied each other for day courses outside of the prison.”
Herron of Latton, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney in 2003 for the brutal killing of Sr Lyons.
During the court case, Superintendent Tom Long told Eamonn Leahy SC, for the DPP, how Sr Lyons planned to get a local bus to Dublin on the day she was killed.
She had two small suitcases and a bag and was last seen at the bus stop by an employee of the convent.
Her colleagues became concerned for her safety when it was learned that her baggage was left unattended on the roadside and she did not arrive in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, later that day as planned.
Gardai were alerted, and her remains were found at 5.05pm close to a hedge in the convent grounds.
State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy concluded that she had been strangled with her own scarf, which was still tied tightly around her neck and had been sexually assaulted.
After discovering her body, Gardai had seized all security footage in the area and became aware that a local teenager, Kealen Herron, had gone to a nearby shop twice that day.
He answered questions put to him at a Garda checkpoint and later volunteered to give a fingerprint sample.
Upon gardai checking the questionnaire, they noticed discrepancies with his story and a finger mark which had been discovered on Sr Lyons spectacles was similar to Herron’s.
Herron admitted in his first Garda statements that he had sexually assaulted her after he strangled her.
A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) said they do not comment on individual prisoner cases.