Northern Ireland

Convicted murderer returned to prison after going on the run

Two prisoners remain unlawfully at large

Murderer David McCord
Murderer David McCord

Unlawfully at large prisoner David McCord has been apprehended by police.

The 54 year old, convicted of the 2003 murder of his partner Nichola Dickson, was in the custody of prison officers at a property on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast when he escaped on Friday August 16.

He was apprehended today in the Belfast area following police appeals to trace his whereabouts, and has been returned to prison.

McCord was on pre-release as early as 2013, a move that provoked anger among Ms Dickson’s family. They said they had been “kept in the dark” over her killer’s release from prison.

Ms Dickson (26) was strangled and stabbed in the bedroom of her home in Ballycarry, Co Antrim, in January 2003.

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Dean Michael Woods, unlawfully at large, was convicted of murder in 1997, aged 18
Dean Michael Woods, unlawfully at large, was convicted of murder in 1997, aged 18

Meanwhile, a convicted murderer and a man serving time for an attempted hijacking remain on the run after breaking the terms of temporary release.

Dean Michael Woods and Lee Price are described as being unlawfully at large.

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

The then 18-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum tariff of 15 years. He had been on pre-release training but has failed to return to Maghaberry Prison.

Maghaberry Prison
Woods failed to return to Maghaberry

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

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



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

In 2007, Woods attempted to have his 15-year minimum tariff reduced but this was rejected by the High Court.

Then Lord Chief Justice Brian Kerr wrote he had “no hesitation in rejecting” the arguments made by Woods’ counsel.

Attempted hijacker Lee Price
Attempted hijacker Lee Price

“The prisoner had clearly intended to carry out a violent attack,” Chief Justice Kerr wrote.

“He not only armed himself with a potentially lethal weapon, he aimed blows at the victim’s head in a manner calculated to maximise the injury inflicted.

Police also appealed for information as they look for 25-year-old Lee Price, convicted in relation to an attempted hijacking that took place in September 2021.

Price has since breached the conditions of his release from prison on licence, the PSNI said.

He is described as being approximately 5ft 11in tall, of medium build, with ginger hair and blue eyes.

Members of the public have been warned not to approach him directly, while police appealed to Price to hand himself in.