Convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan has been admitted to hospital.
Gilligan - who serving 28 years in Portlaoise prison - sought medical assistance from prison staff at about 8 a.m., a Garda spokeswoman confirmed.
He was then brought under armed guard to the Midlands General Hospital in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Gilligan is believed to be suffering from a heart-related problem.
He remains under armed guard at the hospital.
