A PRISONER who killed a garda after colliding with his patrol car in a speeding vehicle in 2009 absconded yesterday from Loughan Prison in Co Cavan.
A Garda search was under way last night for Martin McDermott (26) from Raphoe, Co Donegal, who was noted missing during a head count which took place shortly before 5pm yesterday.
Loughan House is an open low security prison for inmates regarded as requiring lower levels of security. The 160-capacity prison is in Blacklion, Co Cavan.
A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said: “I can confirm that an inmate has absconded from Loughan Prison and, as with any one who goes unlawfully at large, we have informed the gardaí.”
A Garda spokesman said a search for the prisoner was taking place, and a description of him had been sent to all Garda stations, ports and airports which had been told to be on heightened alert.
It is understood that, if apprehended by gardaí, the prisoner will be sent to a closed prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
McDermott was twice over the legal drink-driving limit, when he led gardaí on a 30km high-speed chase on December 13th, 2009, reaching speeds of more than 150km/h. The chase ended when he crashed into a marked patrol car at Lisfannon, Burt, Co Donegal.
Garda Gary McLoughlin (24) died a day later having suffered multiple injuries in the crash.
McDermott, of Castlegrove, Raphoe, was jailed for seven years in July 2011 for the manslaughter of Garda McLoughlin. He was also found guilty of the reckless endangerment of the officer’s life.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, drink-driving, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.