A man who killed a garda after striking the patrol car in which he was sitting in a speeding vehicle absconded from Loughan Prison in Co Cavan this evening.
It is understood that the prisoner, 26-year-old Martin McDermott from Raphoe in Co Donegal, was noted missing during a head count earlier this evening at Loughlan House, an open prison located in Blacklion, Co Cavan.
A spokesman for the Irish Prisons Service said: “I can confirm that an inmate has absconded from Loughlan Prison and, as with any one who goes unlawfully at large, we have informed the gardaí.”
A Garda spokesman said a search for the prisoner was taking place and that all ports and airports had been informed to be on heightened alert.
McDermott was sentenced in July 2011 and jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of Gary McLoughlin (24).
Gda McLoughlin died after suffering multiple injuries as a result of the crash which took place on December 13th, 2009, at Lisfannon, Burt, Co Donegal.
McDermott had led gardaí on a 30km high-speed chase before crashing into the patrol car.