Injured escaped convict back in custody

AN escaped convict who suffered a broken ankle and shinbone after jumping from the third floor of a hospital window was expected to be back in custody last night.

Thomas Connors, aged 26, was expected to return voluntarily to Wheatfield Prison in the company of investigating gardaí.

Earlier yesterday, Connors claimed he had escaped after a notorious criminal had put a €10,000 contract out on his life.

Connors, who is serving eight years for dangerous driving causing death, claimed he had refused to act as a human drug courier for the convicted murderer. The convict claimed in the Dublin Daily that the gangland boss had assaulted him while in Midlands Prison in Portlaoise.

However, other sources said yesterday that both Connors and the criminal, “Cotton Eye” Joe Delaney, were injured in the fight, and that the latter received the worst of the injuries.

Connors, with an address in Rathfarnham, South Dublin, was transferred to Wheatfield Prison, Dublin. From there he was taken to Beaumont Hospital for treatment.

A garda spokesman would not comment on specific allegations made in the article.

Meanwhile, gardaí are investigating a serious assault on a man in Dublin city centre on Wednesday night.

James Kavanagh, from Malahide, North Dublin was in a critical condition last night in the Mater Hospital after receiving head injuries in the attack.

Mr Kavanagh, is in his late 30s, was set upon while waiting for a bus to Tallaght at Eden Quay. Doctors said that Mr Kavanagh was on a life support machine, in a “stable, but critical” condition.

Gardaí at Store Street are following several lines of inquiry.

Detectives are trying to identify and locate a group who may have been drinking with the victim in a pub prior to the attack.

Gardaí are also trying to trace a teenage boy who spoke to a Dublin Bus inspector at 8.55pm on Eden Quay, informing him about the assault.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Station at 01-6668000.