A prisoner has escaped custody tonight after an armed gang ambushed a hired van transporting a number of prisoners outside Waterford city this evening.
The van, which was escorting several prisoners from Waterford District Court to Cork prison, was hijacked when a car drove across its path near Holycross about four miles outside Waterford city on the Cork road at around 5.55 p.m.
Three or four armed men then attacked the van with hammers, smashing the windscreen. It is believed the gang members were also armed with a number of guns.
Only one of the prisoners escaped. He has been named locally as Adrian Duke (29) who was awaiting trial on robbery charges.
He was driven off in a car by the gang and is now at large. Gardaí found a car abandoned near Ballybeg in Waterford which they believe was used in the escape.
Nobody is believed to have been injured in the attack.