Violent prisoner escapes during visit to Dublin hospital

Gardaí were on Wednesday night searching for a prisoner who escaped while being escorted to a Dublin hospital.

Michael Power, who is in his 20s, was on his way to St James’s Hospital at about 10am to be treated for an injury when he got free from the prison officers accompanying him and fled.

Gardaí were alerted and the search is ongoing.

The Irish Prison Service has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the escape. It is understood that Power fled from the hospital’s accident and emergency department.

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Power, from Parslickstown Gardens, Mulhuddart, is serving an 8½ year sentence in Mountjoy Prison for an knife attack on a homeless man which left the victim with serious injuries.

When sentencing Power, who has been in custody over the matter since July 2015, Judge Elma Sheahan said the victim had been sitting in a doorway minding his own business when he was subjected to an “unprovoked and vicious” attack.

Power has a long list of previous convictions including for possession of knives and assault.