A Category B prisoner escaped last night after being taken to an outside hospital for medical treatment. He was recaptured within an hour.

The prisoner, who was serving a 30 months sentence for ’Causing Grievous Bodily Harm by Dangerous Driving’, was due for release in March 2009. He was taken from Magilligan Prison to the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine for medical treatment and while in the custody of Prison Service staff escaped from a hospital toilet. He was recaptured by the Police Service of Northern Ireland close to the hospital fifty minutes after being reported missing.

The Prison Service commends the PSNI for their speedy action in recapturing the prisoner. Procedures are being reviewed and the issue is now a matter of investigation by both the Prison Service and the PSNI. It has also been referred to the police with a view to prosecution.

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