Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesman Dara Calleary has described as “utterly disgraceful” the escape of a prisoner jailed for killing Garda Gary McLoughlin in 2009 and has called for an immediate investigation into the incident.
Deputy Calleary said: “This is an absolutely disgraceful situation. It is intolerable that a person convicted of killing a garda would be detained in a low-security prison and the reports that there is no confirmation on what time he escaped is extraordinary.
“The Minister for Justice must initiate an immediate investigation and allow a preliminary report to be presented to the Dáil next week. We need to know how exactly Martin McDermott escaped from Loughan House; why this prisoner, convicted of such a serious offence, was not detained in a more controlled environment and how many more people convicted of serious offences are held in low-security or open prisons?
“This incident raises very serious issues which I will be addressing with Minister Shatter. I have every confidence in the Gardaí and the PSNI in their ongoing search.
Deputy Calleary concluded: “I also want to extend my thoughts to the family, friends and colleagues of Garda McLoughlin who will no doubt be deeply affected by what’s happened.”
