Armed prisoner on loose after van hijack

An armed prisoner has escaped from garda custody following a prison van hijack near Waterford city.

Adrian Dukes escaped around 6pm, while he was being transferred to Cork prison following an appearance at Waterford District Court.

A Garda van containing several prisoners was intercepted on the Cork Road at the edge of Waterford City by three or four men wielding hammers.

The men, who were also believed to be armed, snatched Dukes, making their escape in an Opel Astra, which was later found abandoned on the Green Road in Waterford City.

No details have released of what charges Dukes was answering at Waterford District Court, but it has been divulged that he was due to face robbery charges in Cork.