Tyrone woman convicted of drug smuggling released on parole from a prison in Peru

Michaella McCollum has been released on parole from a prison in Peru.
The Co Tyrone woman was convicted in 2013 of trying to smuggle cocaine worth 1.8 million euro to Spain and received a 6 and a half year sentence.
Ms McCollum’s solicitor confirmed her release and said it’s not clear when she’ll be eligible to return home.
Michaella McCollum was arrested at Lima Airport in August 2013 along with Scottish woman Melissa Reid – after the two were found with 11 kilos of cocaine hidden in their luggage as they attempted to board a plane to Madrid.
The Tyrone woman was sentenced to eighty months in prison – moving to a maximum security jail outside Lima.
However last Tuesday, less than three years into her sentence, Michaella was granted parole.
In a statement her solicitor Kevin Winters said she’s the conditions of her parole have yet to be determined, and it’s not clear when she will be eligible to return home, as that will be a matter for the court.
Mr Winters says she has not been released under any repatriation scheme or other protocol between Peru and the UK.
Bishop Sean Walsh, who attended the court hearing with Michaella says she will volunteer with the church in Lima, as part of a missionary programme working with sufferers of HIV and Aids.