Gardaí have set up a major search operation and alerted all ports and airports after a prisoner escaped from custody when he attacked prison officers with a knife just as he was being brought to court.
Eddie Casey (42), O'Malley Park, Limerick, had just arrived at Kilmallock District Court in Co Limerick at about 10.30am yesterday when he asked three prison officers escorting him if he could go to the toilet.
He emerged from the ground-floor toilet in the courthouse with a knife and started slashing at his escorts, forcing them back before he fled on foot through the town with the three prison officers in pursuit.
He stole a red four-wheel drive and took off in the direction of Bruff before abandoning it at Ballyvolane, three miles from Kilmallock. He then stole a maroon Renault Laguna, registration number 97 TS 2473.
Gardaí yesterday set up checkpoints in Co Limerick and a Garda helicopter assisted in the search. His description and details were circulated to ports and airports.
Casey was in transit to Kilmallock from Castlerea prison in Co Roscommon where he was serving a sentence for offences including criminal damage, dangerous driving, drunken driving, theft and driving without insurance.
Casey - who was jailed in February 2004 and was due for release in July next year - was also on remand in Castlerea and due to face trial in Galway. He had been brought to Kilmallock to answer a drunken driving charge.
Gardaí yesterday warned anyone who may encounter Casey, who has more than 50 previous convictions, not to approach him as he may be armed.
They urged members of the public who saw him to contact any Garda station immediately.