Two prison officers were injured yesterday as they struggled on a three-storey scaffolding at the Four Courts with two women prisoners who attempted to escape prior to their application for bail in the High Court.
Ms Kathleen and Ms Margaret Maughan, whose address was given as Edel's House Hostel, Cork, had been handcuffed to each other during the lunch adjournment while they went to the women's toilet on the top floor.
Mr Joe Barnes, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, later told High Court President Mr Justice Morris that the sisters faced charges of assault and criminal damage in Cork on July 4th.
The District Court had fixed bail of £4,000, but this had been reduced to £500 on appeal to the High Court on July 26th. They had returned to court yesterday to have that figure further reduced.
A prison officer, Mr Peter Moroney, said when the sisters failed to return from the toilet he and a colleague, Mr Sean Heuston, saw them on a scaffolding outside the court. They had got out of a window in the toilet. When he climbed out after them they ran along a platform to the end of the building. As he apprehended them he was kicked on the shin and Mr Heuston was repeatedly kicked.
Mr Heuston said they repeatedly lashed out at him, spitting, kicking and screaming. He was kicked in the groin and legs.
Mr Justice Morris granted the women liberty to renew their application to the High Court and directed that all the evidence about the attempt to escape be made available to the judge concerned.