THOMAS CLARKE (27), has attacked at least two prison officers, escaped jails in Ireland and England and has been questioned about serious crime in Dublin, according to Garda sources.
The Dubliner, nicknamed "Bomber" Clarke, was due to appear in the District Court yesterday in connection with an armed robbery on the First National Building Society in Blanchardstown about two years ago.
He was serving a five year sentence for an armed robbery in 1993 when he took £1,595 from Mr Eugene Ward on Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West.
According to Mr Tom Hoare, of the Prison Officers' Association, Clarke had travelled to the Dublin courts every Thursday for the past month.
He was on remand and had to appear every eight days to have the remand order renewed.
Mr Hoare said Clarke broke a prison officer's hand while attempting to escape during a recent trip.
Gardai said he had no involvement with drugs or paramilitary organisations.
Clarke also escaped from a British prison after robbing the Leeds Building Society in Yorkshire, in December 1993. According to senior Garda sources, he escaped from prison after attacking a prison officer with a syringe. He was being treated in hospital at the time.
The British Home Office said it was "aware" of Clarke and a spokesman said it did not normally seek extradition if a wanted person was already serving time elsewhere.
He said the Home Office waited until the sentence was near completion.
Garda sources said Clarke would have known in advance when he was being brought to court and had access to telephones in Portlaoise.
The sources said yesterday's action was most probably carried out by close associates.
One Garda source who knew Clarke described him as a "low level" criminal who would soon turn up again. Gardai describe the man as dangerous.