Man jailed for five years for escape attempt

A man who escaped from custody while serving a prison sentence for manslaughter has been jailed for five years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Derek Glennon, 23, of Stanaway Road, Crumlin, was jailed by Judge Bryan McMahon in January 2004 after he pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr Neil King at Davitt Road on December 16, 2002.

Glennon killed the experienced cyclist when he was trying to avoid gardai after being caught driving a stolen car.

While serving his sentence Glennon in October 2005, Glennon was escorted to St James's hospital by three prison officers.

He was outside smoking, under the supervision of two of the officers, when a man approached them and pointed a gun at the officer he was handcuffed to.

This officer was threatened that his head would be blown off if he didn't take the handcuffs off Glennon. Glennon was then released and left with the accomplice in a waiting car.

Judge Delahunt said it was clear that this had been planned and premeditated. She noted that the crime had a significant impact on the two officers, whom she said, were going about their duty on behalf of the State.

She noted that Glennon was almost finished serving his five year sentence for manslaughter at the time and said it made little sense for him to escape from custody.

Glennon pleaded guilty to escape from unlawful custody on October 24, 2005.

Gda Bambrick told Ms Anne Marie Lawlor BL, prosecuting, that Glennon gave a false name and address after he was arrested on January 23, 2006. He was later charged on May 12, 2006.

The prisoner officer that was threatened with the gun told gardai that he suffered from post-traumatic stress and has been out of work for a long time.

Mr Gillane told Judge Delahunt that Glennon was a teenager when he killed the cyclist. He said the incident "came down heavily upon him" and he was suffering from depression and on medication at the time of his sentence.

He said it made little sense for Glennon to escape at that time because he was coming close to the end of his sentence but he had started taking drugs in prison when he learned of the death of someone close to him.

Glennon was transferred to a prison in Cork when he was returned to custody where Mr Gillane said he was isolated as he was unable to receive the visitors he had while in Dublin.