Killer Samuel McKinley on the run weeks after his sons were jailed for murdering Choudhry Zishan

Samuel McKinley, 53, disappeared just four days after his sons Samuel, 25, and Jon, 23, were jailed for life at Winchester Crown Court.

Jonathan McKinley (above).

Samuel McKinley (below).

They must serve at least 28 years for killing newsagent Choudhry Zishan (below) who was beaten to death in a six-minute attack in Eastleigh High Street in March.

Hampshire police today said they had been notified of McKinley’s escape.

Inquiries are under way in the county while officers are liaising with counterparts in Northern Ireland.

Measures have also been taken to inform those necessary of his escape, but police would not reveal who they had told.

McKinley senior has strong local links to Hampshire having lived in Southampton when he was jailed for life in 1996 for murdering a man at a flat in Onslow Road, St Denys.

Outside the murder scene in Onslow Road in 1996.

He has been serving his sentence at a prison in Northern Ireland and was out on a pre-release work scheme when he fled.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Department of Justice told the Daily Echo yesterday: “Samuel McKinley was due to return to Maghaberry Prison by 4pm on Monday December 22 but failed to return.

He has not been recaptured yet and is still unlawfully at large.”

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, McKinley senior, then of Howard Road, Shirley, was tried at Winchester Crown Court for stabbing to death Robin Stoddart at a flat in Onslow Road.

He attacked drinking companion Mr Stoddart, 40, after a two-day binge in January 1996.

Mr Stoddart bled to death after an artery in his thigh was severed.

In an episode with echoes of the murder of Mr Zishan, he told the court that he was so drunk he could not remember what had happened.

That was the same story as Jon McKinley told the same court during his and brother Sam’s trial earlier this month.

A statement from Hampshire police said: “We are in touch with colleagues at the Police Service for Northern Ireland, and there is nothing at this time to suggest that Samuel McKinley may intend to return to Hampshire or Southampton.

"We will continue to monitor this and there are a lot of enquiries in hand and.

“We do not have any information to suggest that this is linked to the recent conviction of McKinley’s sons.

“We have taken measures to ensure that appropriate people are made aware.

"Out of respect to those individuals, we will not be disclosing who they are.”

McKinley senior is reported to have absconded twice before.

Newspapers in Ireland reported that he was a member of the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Defence Association.

Policing Board member Jonathan Craig reportedly said: “Serious questions need to be asked here, not only of probation and prison services but also the Minister for Justice.

"Why is he presiding over an outside body which has for the third time let out an individual who has failed to return?

“Obviously scrutiny of past behaviour of these individuals is not fully being taken onboard. This is putting the public at risk and there are serious questions to be answered.

“It is absolutely bewildering this mistake should be made for a third time and it is something no members of the public will have either sympathy for or understanding of.”

At court in 2012 heard that McKinley was assessed as dangerous and at a high risk of reoffending, but he had achieved “enhanced prisoner status” in jail and was engaging in various probation-run courses.

Samuel McKinley senior.

McKinley is described as having a fresh complexion, of heavy build, with blue eyes, black hair and is about 5ft 10ins.

Anyone with information about McKinley is asked to pass it to the Police service of Northern Ireland, call Hampshire police on 101 or the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

The ex-partner of McKinley senior and mother of Sam and Jon lives in Devon Drive, Chandler’s Ford. She was unavailable for comment.

Samuel Junior and Jon were due to appear at magistrates court for four alleged assaults in Winchester Prison.

They were alleged to have assaulted prison staff on April 15.

A Basingstoke Magistrates Court hearing discontinued the assault allegations on December 23.