Gardaí in Dublin were last night seeking a woman in her 20s who escaped from Mountjoy Prison yesterday. It is the first time someone has escaped from prison in more than two years.
The woman has been named as Elizabeth Cumberton from Dublin. She escaped from the Dóchas Centre - the women's prison on the Mountjoy Prison complex - shortly before 10am yesterday.
A Prison Service spokesperson said two women escaped initially though one was recaptured al- most immediately. She was being interviewed by staff yesterday.
It is understood a window was broken in the centre on Tuesday night. Tradesmen were in the prison yesterday morning to repair the window. It was at this point that the two women made their escape.
It is thought Cumberton injured her ankle during the escape and may need medical attention. The Prison Service spokesperson said Cumberton was not dangerous. She was awaiting trial and had not been in the centre for long.
The last time anyone escaped from the prison in which they were being held was in May 2003 when two men escaped. They were recaptured later the same day. Though no prisoner has escaped from the prison residence in the past two years there have been numerous cases of prisoners failing to return from temporary release, or absconding while in Garda custody.
Last Christmas 19 prisoners failed to return from temporary release. A total of 294 prisoners had been granted varying periods of temporary release at Christmas under the Criminal Justice Act, 1960.
