Alert, Derek Brockwell, Escape Prisoner
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previously been put in place for him but this was withdrawn last year.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.
