Escaped prisoner found by Dublin gardaí

Dublin gardaí have found a violent prisoner who escaped from custody last Sunday while visiting his sick mother.

Dublin gardaí have found a violent prisoner who escaped from custody last Sunday while visiting his sick mother.

Ian Stewart (27) was arrested shortly after 10.15 p.m. last night during the search of a house in Lucan, gardaí said. He has been returned to Mounjoy prison.


Stewart (right), from Moynihan Court in Tallaght, is serving ten years for armed robbery in Mountjoy Prison and was out on release to visit his mother at Harold's Cross Hospice in Dublin when he escaped.

He was accompanied by three prison officers during the visit and the prison chaplain. It is understood the escape happened at around 2 p.m. on Sunday when Stewart jumped out of a window in the hospice.

A prison officer injured an ankle after he tried to follow Stewart out the window. A bicycle may have been left nearby to help his escape.

According to a Prison Service spokeswoman, the governor of the prison had issued instructions for Stewart to remain handcuffed at all times during the visit.

An investigation got under way as to how he escaped.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter