Freed Rape Suspect Sought Over NI Shooting

A foreign national who embarrassed officials in Northern Ireland last year when he was freed by mistake from a high security jail in Co Antrim is being sought across the British Isles over a shock Co Down murder.

Devidas Paliutis left Maghaberry Prison - where he was being held on charges of rape, burglary and false imprisonment - after the Prison Service was told that holding charges had been withdrawn.

However, they but did not realise he had been returned for trial to the Crown Court on other charges.

The Lithuanian man, who is aged 27, had just appeared at Newry Magistrates Court via a video link from Maghaberry Prison and the Prison Service was advised that the holding charges were withdrawn from the Magistrates Court.

They failed to act on the notification that other charges had been substituted - for which he was returned for trial to the Crown Court - and erroneously released Paliutis.

After last weekend's murder in Kilkeel, the PSNI have appealed for help in tracing the runaway, as they want to question him in connection with the murder of 29-year-old Dmytro Grytsunov who was shot in Rooney Park in Kilkeel on Saturday night.

Police want to speak to Mr Paliutas and another man, Ernestas Rudeckis, in relation to the shooting.

The police have urged the public not to approach either of them.

Meanwhile, another man has been arrested on Tuesday evening, in connection with the killing at Rooney Park on Saturday night and a 32-year-old woman remains in police custody.

Mr Grytsunov, who was originally from Ukraine, died after being shot in the chest with three other men who were being questioned about his murder since released on police bail and a 39-year-old woman released unconditionally after a follow-up search saw police recovering a firearm and ammunition.

See: Freed Prisoner Embarrassment For Minister

(BMcC/GK)