The repatriation of Michaella McCollum from Peru has been given the go-ahead by the Belfast prison service who have stated that she can serve the rest of her jail term in Northern Ireland.
According to RTÉ News, all necessary paperwork has now been filed with the Peruvian authorities, a letter from the Northern Ireland Prison Service disclosed.
However, the prison service noted that the final decision lies with the ministry of justice and human rights.
Sue McAllister, director general of the NIPS, told McCollum's legal team: "I can confirm that the Peruvian authorities have all of the documentation they require to enable them to make a decision on your client's application for repatriation.
"This paperwork includes confirmation that NIPS is prepared to accept her as a transferred prisoner.
"However, the final decision on the application is a matter for the Peruvian ministry of justice and human rights."
Michaela and Scottish woman Melissa Reid were sentenced to six years and eight months’ in prison last December for attempting to smuggle 11.5 kilos of cocaine, worth €1.8m, on a flight from Lima to Spain.
Prison authorities in Peru accepted a transfer request for McCollum Connolly (20), but the process took a number of months.
