NI police hunt high risk prisoner

Police fired shots today after a high risk prisoner escaped from a court room in Northern Ireland.

David Taggart, 24, broke out just after being remanded in custody on charges of attempted murder and making threats to kill.

Two security guards where injured in the melee at Lisburn Court in Co Antrim.

With the Northern Ireland security minister Shaun Woodward expressing shock at the escape, a police spotter plane was scrambled to scour the area for any sign of the suspect.

Officers also fired a number of shots close to a stretch of railway line nearby, a police spokeswoman confirmed.

Taggart, who is described as 5ft 9ins, of medium build with blue eyes, fair hair and ginger stubble, had been a prisoner at the nearby Maghaberry Jail.

He had been ordered back into custody with instructions to appear again of July 5 when he fled.

A Northern Ireland Court Service spokes person said: “Sometime later Taggart escaped from his cell.

“Two Custody Officers were injured and the prisoner made good his escape from the Court premises.

“The Northern Ireland Prison Service are responsible for the production of prisoners to the court.

“An investigation by both the Police and the Prison Authorities has commenced.”

Taggart, a life sentence inmate was in the custody of private firm Maybin Security Services at the time, the Prison Service said.

A spokesman added: “David Taggart is described as a high risk prisoner and should not be directly approached by members of the public.”

Police said there were no reports of any injuries after the shots were discharged during a major search operations.

The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Nuala O’Loan has been alerted to the incident in line with current procedures, a spokeswoman added.

Mr Woodward stress that officers involved in the hunt were doing everything possible to catch Taggart.

He added: “I am confident that we will manage to do so, but nonetheless like everybody else when these things happen it’s pretty shocking and we need to act quickly now.”