A prison officer was so infatuated with a prisoner that when he was given three days' leave she harboured him for six months, it was alleged yesterday in the High Court in Belfast.
The claim was made during a bail application by Ms Valerie Gamble (29), whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim. Ms Gamble worked at the prison until she was remanded there in June on charges of aiding the prisoner to remain at large and taking part in an armed robbery with him.
A Crown lawyer said Ms Gamble had developed a relationship with the prisoner while he was serving a seven-year sentence for robbery. He was granted leave last December but did not return. He remained free until June when police stopped a car in Belfast and found Ms Gamble at the wheel and the prisoner beside her. "It seems she kept him in her house over a six months period," the lawyer said.
He said the robbery charge related to a hold-up in Bangor when Ms Gamble was alleged to have used her car. He added: "Police also have information that a Walther pistol was used in a robbery in the Republic of Ireland and the suspicion is that the prisoner used the weapon issued to Gamble for her personal protection."
Ms Gamble denies the charges.
Granting bail, Mr Justice Kerr said: "Sadly, she remains under the influence of her co-accused and I hope that situation will change. But I am making it a condition that she must make no attempt whatever to contact her co accused."
Ms Gamble was released on her own bail of £500 with two sureties of £10,000, and ordered to report to the RUC daily until her trial.