Officers told to cuff escaped convict

PRISON officers were told to keep a dangerous criminal, who escaped during a visit to his ill mother, in handcuffs, the head of the Prison Service said yesterday.

Prison Service director general Brian Purcell said he could not comment on reports officers removed Ian Stewart’s handcuffs as a humanitarian gesture at his mother’s bedside.

“I cannot comment in too much detail, because I don’t want to prejudice the investigation, but my understanding is the governor gave an instruction that the person was to remain in handcuffs during the course of the visit.