Prisoners flee

Two violent criminal cousins were at large last night in Limerick after escaping from Garda custody while being brought to Limerick prison from the local district court.

Both managed to escape as a Garda van approached the front gates of the prison. They are in their 20s and belong to a notorious drugs family in Southill.

A major Garda hunt for the two was concentrated in the Southill area and other known haunts of the two. A prison service spokesman said it was not a matter for them as the two were in Garda custody at the time of their escape.