Two prisoners absconded from Letterkenny Courthouse in Co Donegal yesterday following a consultation with their solicitor.
Judge Tom Fitzpatrick was informed that both prisoners had escaped at 1pm. Insp Pat O'Donnell requested a bench warrant for their arrest. Judge Fitzpatrick said he could not issue a warrant as they were not on bail.
"You blew it," he said, addressing the inspector. Judge Fitzpatrick said he had complained about lax security in relation to persons in custody in the courthouse on Monday.
John Quinn of Cavanmore Gardens and Joseph McQuade of Ross Street, both Belfast, were held overnight in custody following their arrest for the theft of money from a premises in Bridgend and taken before Judge Fitzpatrick at a special sitting of the District Court in Letterkenny yesterday morning.
Sgt Niall Coady told the court that he arrested the men at 1.15pm on Monday at the Frontier Hotel, Bridgend, and took them to Burnfoot Garda station where they pleaded guilty to the charges.
Solicitor Patricia Dorrian requested a short adjournment to allow her to consult with her clients. She said relatives of the accused were in court and gardaí did not object to bail.
Judge Fitzpatrick consented and the prisoners and two gardaí went to the foyer of the courthouse.
It later transpired that both accused ran out of the courthouse after a brief consultation with their solicitor.
The prisoners intimated to gardaí that they were returning to the courtroom when both men bolted toward the front door. Gardaí gave chase but were unable to apprehend them.
Eyewitnesses said the heavily pregnant girlfriend of one of the men held open the automatic courthouse doors as both men fled.
Once outside the men separated. The two prisoners were spotted in a car a short time later.
Their three female companions walked away from the courthouse.
John Quinn was charged with handling stolen coins, valued at €29.55, the property of Michael Doherty.
Joseph McQuade was accused of stealing €37.63 on the same date and an earlier theft of €100 from the same premises at Bridgend, on May 3rd last year.