Escaped murderer arrested in London

The Central Criminal Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of an escaped murderer, who has been located by police in London.

Dubliner Stephen Rock (aged 40) was sentenced to life in prison on November 22, 1988, after pleading guilty to the murder of James Kavanagh. Mr Kavanagh was beaten to death with a pickaxe handle on June 12, that year at Naas Road, Bluebell in Dublin

On December 29, 1999, the prisoner, who was from Cremona Road in Ballyfermot, absconded from Shelton Abbey prison in Arklow, Co. Wicklow.

Rock had not been seen until recently, when he came to the attention of police in the London area

Today, Mr Justice Paul Carney granted the DPP a bench warrant for the convict’s arrest, so he may be brought before the courts here.