Prisoner admits to further thefts

PRISON escapee Thomas Clarke had his sentence hearing adjourned to Wednesday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he admitted…

PRISON escapee Thomas Clarke had his sentence hearing adjourned to Wednesday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he admitted to two further robberies.

Clarke (27), of Keeper Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty to stealing £3,950 from the Bank of Ireland, Ballsbridge, and using a stolen car on May 19th, 1993. He also pleaded guilty to stealing £4,465 from the Blanchardstown branch of the First National Building Society on September 21st, 1993. Earlier this month, he admitted stealing £9,000 cash and travellers' cheques worth £16,500 on June 3rd, 1993, at FNBS on Drumcondra Road.

He further admitted larceny of a £50 bicycle on June 11th, 1993, and attempted robbery again at the FNBS, Drumcondra Road, on the same date.

Judge Cyril Kelly remanded Clarke in continuing custody to November 20th next for sentence on all the matters.

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Clarke was extradited from Amsterdam recently after Dutch police captured him there on June 4th. He had been unlawfully at large since April 25th when an armed gang intercepted a prison van taking him from Portlaoise Prison to a Dublin court.

The court heard previously that when freed Clarke had been serving a five year sentence for robbery.