Two prison officers have suffered stab wounds in what gardaí believe was a well planned escape by a prisoner on a visit to Tallaght Hospital in Dublin.
The inmate who escaped has been named as Derek Brockwell (53), who has been in jail in Ireland for over two years. He is also one of the UK’s most wanted criminals and was featured on BBC’s Crimewatch programme.
He had been serving a life sentence in the UK for a string of violent robberies, mainly on betting shops, but absconded while on day release for training in the community three years ago.
In June 2012, he was caught by gardaí after he robbed a bank at gunpoint in Blackrock, Co Dublin before trying to escape in a taxi.
The prison officers stabbed today were escorting Brockwell for a medical appointment from Portlaoise Prison to Tallaght Hospital when they were attacked just before 4pm.
Brockwell reportedly stabbed one officer in the abdomen and the other in the hand.
He then ran to a waiting motorbike outside and was driven away at speed.
The injured officers are being treated at Tallaght Hospital. The third officer on the escort, who was not injured in the attack, is said to be “extremely traumatised”.
A Garda investigation is under way into the incident. The inquiry into the escape is focussed on how Brockwell came into possession of the knife he used in the attack.
An armed escort had previously been put in place for him but this was withdrawn last year.
Gardaí have appealed for public assistance in tracing Brockwell. He is described as being 190cm (6’3’’) tall with brown hair and broad build.
He is a prolific criminal who was jailed for life for a series of armed robberies in England and had 22 life sentences to run concurrently imposed on him. He carried out armed robberies on betting shops in London’s Marylebone and Paddington areas during September and October 2009, deliberately selecting target shops with female cashiers. Because he had so many previous convictions, his trial judge imposed life sentences.
He had come to Ireland in early 2012 after he absconded from Kirkham Prison in England by failing to return there after being released to work in the community.
He had served some 13 years when he absconded.
