Nearly 80 criminals have absconded from country's 'open' prisons 

Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow is one of two open prisons in the State. 

A total of 79 convicted criminals have absconded from the State’s two low-security ‘open’ prisons since 2014, seven of whom remain at large — including one who has evaded the authorities for a decade.

Loughan House in Co Cavan and Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow usually accommodate prisoners who are considered to pose a reduced risk to the public or are preparing for release towards the end of their sentences.

New figures released by the Department of Justice show two inmates absconded from these facilities last year, and neither have been recaptured.

There was a spike in the number of inmates absconding from the two open prisons during the covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when 24 criminals failed to return to custody. Twenty-two of these were subsequently returned to prison but two remain at large.

One of the unsuccessful escapees during this period was convicted Dublin drug dealer and gunman John Mangan, who absconded from Loughan House in October 2021.

The 53-year-old had been caught in possession of nearly €350,000 worth of cannabis in July 2006 and was arrested the following year while carrying a loaded pistol in his trousers.

He reportedly fled from Loughan House because he had been found with a ‘burner’ phone in breach of prison rules and was facing a return to a closed facility.

However, Mangan was recaptured a few weeks later after leading gardaí on a high-speed chase through Dublin suburbs, during which he narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian.

He was sentenced to an additional 15 months in prison on charges of endangerment, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance.

Others have had better luck in evading the authorities after absconding from low-security detention centres. One prisoner who escaped in 2014 has yet to be recaptured, while two inmates who fled the following year also remain at large.

The figures were provided by Justice Minister Simon Harris in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan.

“The Irish Prison Service defines an absconder as someone who leaves an open centre without permission,” Mr Harris said.

“An Garda Síochána are informed when a person absconds from custody and gardaí have the power to detain, arrest and return that person to custody.

“Experience has shown that the vast majority of people who abscond return voluntarily or are returned to custody to complete their sentences within a short timeframe,” he added.