Two men escape from Ennis courthouse

A Co Limerick man who was caught driving a stolen car in a high speed car chase escaped custody with another prisoner at Ennis courthouse on Wednesday.

Jason Freyne (22) fled through the back door of the courthouse at 3.15pm , moments after 18-year-old Keith Garrihy of Beechgrove, Newmarket on Fergus walked out of the door and ran through a gate.

Less than two hours later, Garrihy was picked up by gardai 3km away in Clarecastle. Freyne, of Ash Avenue, Carew Park, Limerick, remains at large.

Garrihy was brought back to Ennis courthouse to be returned to Limerick prison.

The two prisoners were two of 12 people remanded in custody to appear before the court. Both had their cases dealt with and were being returned to the prison cells when they escaped.

On hearing of the prisoners’ escape, Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the few remaining custodial cases to next Wednesday “because of the emergency situation downstairs”.

Earlier, Judge Durcan heard that Freyne sped away at 140km/h from gardaí in a stolen car during a chase along the M18 motorway.

Freyne, who has 46 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and the unauthorised taking of a vehicle on April 19th, 2015. Judge Durcan adjourned sentencing to a later date.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service confirmed that two prisoners had escaped from the custody of Prison Officers while on escorts to Ennis District Court. “Gardaí have been informed and one prisoner has since been re-captured. The matter is being investigated by the Irish Prison Service.”