13 injured by CS gas as prisoner tries to flee hospital

THIRTEEN people, including six patients, were last night being treated for exposure to highly toxic CS gas after a botched escape attempt by a prisoner who was receiving medical care at Tallaght Hospital.

The man who sprayed the A&E department of the Dublin hospital with the gas was a 60-year old Belgian on remand at Clover Hill prison on drugs smuggling charges.

Gardaí said the man was taken by prison officers to the hospital A&E department yesterday afternoon having complained of severe chest pains. On arrival at the A&E unit the man demanded that he be allowed have a shower. Shortly afterwards he produced the canister of gas which he sprayed at three prison officers who were escorted him.