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The net may be closing in on child killer John Clifford after a reported sighting this morning in Dublin city centre.

John Clifford, who raped and murdered his 8-year-old niece Sue Ellen Clifford, has been on the run from police since he absconded while out day release from Belfast prison last Sunday.

Instead of returning to custody, he boarded a train bound for Dublin, and was spotted last Tuesday in Balbriggan in north county Dublin.

There was a new sighting of the killer this morning near Temple St Children's Hospital.

A woman in the area has posted an online warning: "That rapist on the run from Belfast is literally after being in Hardwicke Lane when I was driving past.

"He looked straight in the window at me. After parking, he copped me taking the pics and ran, the scumbag!!!"

The woman said that she immediately called the gardai to alert them.

The sighting has not yet been confirmed by police.

Clifford was jailed in 1989 for the rape and murder of little Sue Ellen, whose body was later found by disused railway tracks near her Newtownabbey home.

Clifford had been released from Burren House on the Crumlin Road, Belfast, for an appointment, but did not return on Sunday evening as expected.

Sue Ellen’s sister Deborah Adair has said she is convinced he will kill again.

PSNI Detective Inspector Michael McDonnell said last week: “We believe he boarded a train at 13.05 at Lanyon Place train station on Sunday, September 2.

“He was wearing a dark-coloured beanie-style hat, with glasses and a dark, heavy coat and was carrying a dark-coloured backpack.

“He is 1.75 metres (5ft 7in) tall, of medium build with green eyes, fair hair and a fresh complexion.

“I’d again appeal to anyone who may have seen him, or who may have information about his whereabouts to contact us immediately

"I’d also appeal directly to John to hand himself in.”

A Garda spokesman said: “Gardai are assisting the PSNI in relation to their investigation.”

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