A Garda manhunt is under way for a prisoner who stole two cars and tried to hijack another in his escape from a Co Limerick courthouse today.
The man, who is from Limerick City, was due to appear before Charleville District Court which was sitting in Kilmallock shortly before noon when he escaped.
The man emerged from a toilet cubicle brandishing a knife in the faces of three prison officers charged with his care and escaped from the courthouse.
After a failed attempt to hijack a car near the courthouse, the man eventually found a red jeep with keys in the ignition and drove as far as Knockainey when the jeep ran out of petrol.
The prisoner then stole a Renault Laguna which again had its keys in the ignition.
The man was serving a two-year jail in Castlerea Prison. He was appearing before the court over driving offences.