Prisoner in hospital escape has history of absconding
Michael Murray, aged 37, and originally from Cork city, escaped from University College Hospital in Galway at 1.10am yesterday while on an escorted in-patient visit from Castlerea Prison.
It is understood that Murray had been at the hospital for a number of days for a check-up and that he had more than one prison escort with him.
However, he escaped from a ground floor toilet window and managed to make his way off the hospital grounds as the alarm was raised.
Murray was wearing his pyjamas and dressing gown at the time of his escape. He is described as being 5ft 8in, of stocky build and completely bald.
Murray, who is serving a seven-year sentence, with two years suspended, for robbery and possession of stolen goods, and possession of an offensive weapon, had transferred to Castlerea Prison in recent months. He was due for release on June 4 next.
It emerged that when Murray was granted temporary release from Portlaoise Prison for Christmas, 2002, he failed to return on time and instead stole four gold bracelets from an antiques store in Cork city.
It was also alleged that he brandished a broken bottle in another antiques store and made off with €5,000.
Later in 2003 Murray appeared before Judge David Riordan at Cork District Court in relation to a charge of robbing €5,400 from the National Irish Bank that August.
When bail was refused, Murray told the judge: “You should have your head blown off, you p***k.”
It is understood that at some point Murray might have received a threat from a member of a Limerick criminal gang.
A prison officer source said one possibility was that Murray may have been fearful of his safety. “He must have been in serious fear,” the source said.
The prison service said it does not believe this was the reason for his escape.
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