Inmate escapes from courthouse

THE IRISH Prison Service is investigating how an inmate escaped from Cloverhill courthouse on Tuesday morning, June 12.

The man escaped while waiting to appear at Cloverhill District Court which is located on the grounds of Cloverhill remand prison in Clondalkin.

The man, who is 36 and from Crumlin, was due to appear in court on robbery charges and was waiting in the cells adjoining the courthouse when he walked out of his unlocked cell.

He went through the court building and exited through the front door.

A spokesman said the search for the prisoner is being carried out by gardai and that the Prison Service is has started its own internal investigation into how he escaped.

The man entered a nearby housing estate where he stole a bike and made his escape.

The garda helicopter was deployed and searches for the man, who has previously survived a shooting, are ongoing.