Glen Allen, a convicted murderer and fugitive, captured headlines across the world after he went on the run in December 2020. Throughout his brief stint on the lam, Allen evaded police and inexplicably evaded capture for nearly one month. However, his freedom ultimately came to an end, and he was finally apprehended, much to the relief of law enforcement officials and the community. Now, Allen is set to face an extended jail sentence for his heinous crimes, leaving many hoping for justice to be served. This article delves deeper into the life and crimes of Glen Allen and explores what the future may hold for him.
Glen Allen, now 34, was convicted of the brutal murder of William Meek in Portrush in 2008. Mr. Meek was stabbed 51 times in the head, face, and neck. In 2010, Allen was sentenced to a minimum of 14-and-a-half years in jail for the murder and the wounding of Mr. Meek with intent on February 13, 2008.
Allen was allowed out of jail on temporary release in December of last year, in preparation for his permanent release. However, he failed to return as scheduled and police issued an appeal for information on his whereabouts. A few days after the appeal, he was arrested in the Causeway Coast and Glens Council area.
Allen has since been charged with being unlawfully at large. The charge carries a maximum sentence of two years. He appeared before Coleraine Magistrates Court charged with the offense but was given an adjournment until April 17 for a preliminary inquiry.
A court was told during his murder trial that in February 2008, Allen and Mr. Meek “met by chance” and drank together in a disabled toilet on Portrush’s East Strand. According to Mr. Meek, he was attacked “for no reason” as he walked away early in the morning, sustaining 14 stab wounds to his head and neck.
However, a defense barrister at the trial told the Court that Allen claimed he had awoken to find Mr. Meek sexually interfering with him.
The defense barrister said Allen had been released on bail over that attack, but that four months later, on June 25 of the same year, the pair met “entirely by accident” in Portrush. Allen began “remonstrating” with Mr. Meek over the alleged assault, and the pair ended up drinking together in Mr. Meek’s flat.
Emergency services were called to the flat at around 6:15 am, and Mr. Meek was dragged from it with his head and face covered in blood. He was pronounced dead at the scene an hour later. Mr. Meek had suffered 51 stab wounds to his head, face, and neck. A pathologist stated that the most likely fatal wound had penetrated “almost the entire breadth” of his skull and brain.
Handing down the sentence, Lord Justice Girvan said nothing justified the frenzied attack on Mr. Meek which led to his death in “horrible circumstances.”
Allen was allowed out of prison in December as part of a temporary release program in preparation for him being freed permanently from prison. However, when Allen failed to return on the designated date, police issued an appeal for information on his whereabouts.
Police thanked people who had come forward with information and helped put the convicted killer back behind bars. Allen’s case was adjourned until April 17 for a preliminary inquiry, and he has been charged with being unlawfully at large. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum sentence of two years.
