Murderer convicted as a teenager 27 years ago wrongfully released from prison – The Irish News

A murderer who had his life sentence revoked is now illegally at large because he failed to return to prison.

Dean Michael Woods (46) was first convicted in 1997 for beating Brian Peden to death with a golf club in Coleraine two years earlier.

The then 18-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years. He had attended a release preparation course but did not return to Maghaberry Prison.

Woods is described by the Justice Department as being of slim build, 5'5″ tall, with a fresh complexion and brown eyes and hair.

He has tattoos on his chest and on his left upper arm, one of which is a heart and the other a tribal line.

He was convicted of the murder of 26-year-old Mr Peden in a premeditated attack on the Ballysally estate outside Coleraine in December 1995.

In 2007, Woods attempted to lower his 15-year-old minimum wage, but the attempt was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Then-Chief Justice Brian Kerr wrote that he could “reject without hesitation” Woods' attorney's arguments.

“The prisoner clearly had the intent to carry out a violent attack,” wrote Presiding Judge Kerr.

“Not only did he arm himself with a potentially lethal weapon, he also aimed at the victim's head in such a way that the injuries were maximum.

“The victim was unarmed and, after being incapacitated by the first blow, was in a completely defenceless state.

“The prisoner continued to strike the deceased after he had fallen to the ground and I therefore do not accept that his actions were consistent with an intention to inflict serious bodily harm rather than to kill.”