Police on both sides of the Border are hunting a suspected sex offender who is also wanted in connection with other serious crimes, including murder.
Stormont justice minister David Ford admitted today that Devidas Paliutas, who was mistakenly freed from Maghaberry jail in Co Antrim last September, may have left Ireland entirely and later returned.
He is being sought by the PSNI in relation to the shooting dead of a 29-year-old Ukranian national.
Dmytro Grytsunov died on Easter Sunday some hours after he was hit in the chest by a shotgun blast in Kilkeel, Co Down following disturbances involving rival members of migrant communities.
Mr Paliutas was held on remand last year in relation to a series of charges including sexual offences, unlawful and injurious imprisonment and theft.
He appeared by video-link at Newry Magistrates' Court from Maghaberry prison on September 29th.
According to a statement issued later that week by Mr Ford's department, the Prison Service was advised that the holding charges had been withdrawn from the Magistrates' Court.
However, 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 Mr Paliutis.
The mistake was discovered the day after the incident but was withheld from the media in order to facilitate the police search for him.
The PSNI, the Garda and Interpol have all been involved.
"There was a detailed examination which followed up his previous known haunts," Mr Ford said today. Those involved both Co Armagh and Co Monaghan locations. He wasn't found as a result of that. It appeared he had left Ireland completely. He may indeed have done so and returned - we simply don't know."
Mr Paliutas is said to have brown eyes, brown hair, and is of medium build, with a left ear piercing, a vaccination mark on his upper left arm and scars on both knees and on his forehead.
The PSNI has issued the names of two other men whom they want to question in connection with the murder of Mr Grytsunov.
They are seeking Darius Brazas and Ernestas Rudeckas and have warned the public not to approach them.