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Belfast Man,Robert Flanagan,Returns to Prison Following Multiple License Breaches – A man previously convicted of manslaughter,Robert Flanagan,has been repeatedly returned to custody due to violations of his release conditions,most recently following an incident in November 2022.
Flanagan initially received a life sentence with a minimum six-year term after being found guilty of manslaughter in connection with a stabbing that resulted in eight wounds to the victim’s lungs and liver. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at the time of sentencing.
the cycle of release and re-imprisonment began due to breaches of his early release licence. In November 2022, Flanagan was arrested and charged with stabbing a man on Kinnaird Street in north Belfast. Despite the charges, he was acquitted of wounding with intent and possessing a knife in the following year.
Prior to the 2022 incident, Flanagan was the victim of a hit-and-run attack in July 2020 on the Antrim road. Footage of the event showed him being struck by a vehicle, with individuals allegedly associated with rival groups present at the scene. One man was recorded shouting threats towards Flanagan as he lay injured.
Following the Kinnaird Street stabbing, Flanagan evaded authorities for approximately two weeks before being apprehended. The Police Service of Northern ireland (PSNI) circulated CCTV images of him to the public and issued a warning advising people not to approach him directly.
Background: Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland – the case highlights the complex intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system,notably in regions with a history of conflict like Northern Ireland. Individuals with severe mental illness,such as paranoid schizophrenia,might potentially be involved in violent incidents due to their condition,
