A prisoner escaped custody last night while being transported from Dublin to Castlerea Prison, Co Roscommon. The inmate, a Dublin man in his 20s, hijacked a taxi en route to Castlerea following a court appearance in the capital.
Gardai said the man produced a sharp implement and threatened two prison officers escorting him, outside Ballymahon, Co Longford, about 30 miles from Castlerea.
He ordered the officers and the taxi-driver on to the road and drove away in a Ford Mondeo, at about 8.50 pm.
The car was found abandoned in the Bawnogue area of Clondalkin, Dublin, early this morning.