Escaped convict spends night in hospital after being tasered in Belfast

A convicted criminal, who escaped custody on Tuesday, has spent the night in hospital after he was arrested in Belfast.

53-year-old Derek Brockwell stabbed two prison officers during his escape from Tallaght Hospital where he was undergoing scheduled treatment.

The British national - who was serving a seven-year sentence in Portlaoise for burglary offences - was apprehended in Belfast City Centre yesterday and tasered by police.

It is believed Brockwell, who was handed 22 life sentences in the UK for armed robbery and had appeared as a wanted man on BBC’s Crimewatch show, was picked up after escaping from custody by an awaiting accomplice on a motorbike or in a car which sped away from the scene.

Belfast based security correspondent Alan Murray expects Brockwell to appear in court this evening, with an application by the PSNI saying he is wanted in both jurisdictions.

It will then be a matter for the Republic of Ireland and N. Ireland to decide who will first try Mr Brockwell, but the Gardaí are expected to apply for his extradition.

The serial criminal was two years into a seven-year sentence for armed robbery after he admitted holding up the Bank of Ireland in Blackrock, south Dublin, in October 2012.

He was also convicted of robbing a post office and a bookmakers as well as for firearms offences.