MANHUNT AS TWO INMATES FLEE PRISON
Runaway criminals back in Garda custody Escape weeks after murder suspect bolts
TWO runaway criminals who escaped from an open prison yesterday are now in Garda custody.
The pair allegedly broke out of Loughan House, near Blacklion, Co Cavan – just weeks after another inmate disappeared.
One of yesterday’s escaped prisoners is understood to be in his 20s from Cork with more than 200 criminal convictions – including impersonating a Garda.
The second inmate is believed to be from the Midlands and is serving a sentence for a drugs offence.
Loughan House prison is a low security jail in Blacklion, Co Cavan.
The majority of inmates based at the facility, which offers more freedom than a closed prison, are coming towards the end of their sentence.
The escape comes just weeks after convicted drug dealer and gunman John Mangan broke free from the same open prison. He remains at large.
A spokeswoman for the Irish Prison Service confirmed yesterday’s escapees were now in Garda custody but could not provide any further details.
She added: “When a prisoner absconds, An Garda Siochana are informed and they have the power to detain, arrest, and return such persons to prison.”
The recent escape comes just weeks after 53-year-old Mangan, from Whitestown Green in Blanchardstown, Dublin, who was caught with more than €2million worth of cannabis in July 2006.
In 2007, he was arrested while carrying a loaded pistol in his trousers.
Sources said Mangan may have escaped on October 4 as he faced being returned to a closed prison after allegedly being recently caught with a “burner” mobile phone, which is against the regulations. He was previously named in court as being involved in the murders of Martin “Marlo” Hyland and innocent plumber Anthony Campbell. He was among dozens of criminals arrested over the deaths in December 2006. However, gardai did not charge him despite considering him a suspect.
In March 2012, journalist Paul Williams gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court alleging Willie Hynes and Mangan were responsible. The reporter said two former lieutenants of Hyland were allegedly involved and named Hynes and Mangan.
Gardai have the powers to detain and return IPS SPOKESWOMAN YESTERDAY