The prisoner who escaped following his appearance at Waterford District Court is today back in custody after being arrested in Galway, following a day and a half on the run.
Oliver Walsh was arrested on Wednesday night in Galway city for being unlawfully at large and was returned to Cork prison yesterday.
Gardaí in Waterford began a major manhunt on Tuesday afternoon, after Mr Walsh escaped following his appearance before the District Court in the city.
Walsh (45), St John's Terrace, Roman's Walk, Cork, was sentenced to four months and was in the custody of two prison officers for the return journey to Cork Prison when he escaped at about 2 p.m.
While the two prison officers guarding him were distracted, the prisoner ran out the door of the courthouse on Catherine Street, which is adjacent to the city's People's Park.
Walsh had appeared in court in relation to his failure to pay a bill at the Belfry Hotel, Conduit, Waterford, on April 4th last.
He had drunk three pints of lager and made 25 phone calls from the hotel, running up a bill of €103, which he was unable to pay, prompting hotel staff to call Waterford gardaí.
The escapee was also serving a three-month sentence for impersonating a garda and had previous convictions for arson and criminal damage.