Ireland Case No. 13744Escape from lawful custody · Co. Clare · 25 Nov 2024
Prisoner absconds from Ennis Garda Station during cigarette break
Daniel McCarthy, a man, was in custody at Ennis Garda Station, Co Clare, on 25 November 2024 when he ran off during a cigarette break taken outside the station with a Garda present. A Garda arrested him in Limerick on 4 December 2024, after he had remained at large, and he pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody. In the District Court he received a six-month prison term, consecutive to a 32-month affray sentence, and on appeal at Ennis Circuit Court the escape sentence was reduced to three months, as reported on 13 May 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced13 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- He ran off after a cigarette break taken outside Ennis Garda Station, accompanied by a Garda, and scaled a closed gate.
- A Garda chased him but fell back when trying to scale the gate and lost sight of him.
- Where
- The escape happened at Ennis Garda Station, Co Clare, while he was in custody.
- When
- The escape happened on 25 November 2024.
- Cause
- Sources say he asked for a cigarette break, and the Clare Echo headline describes the break as permitted.
- Investigation
- Local Garda members were alerted and all areas of Ennis town were patrolled.
- He remained at large until a Garda spotted and arrested him in Limerick on 4 December 2024.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody from Ennis Garda Station on 25 November 2024.
- Sentence
- In the District Court he received a six-month prison term, consecutive to a 32-month sentence for affray.
- In court
- On appeal at Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford reduced the consecutive escape sentence to three months.
- The judge said the District Court sentence was not wrong in principle but reduced it given the long affray sentence and his youth at the time.
- Other details
- His solicitor said he fled because he feared a looming sentencing for an affray offence and ran away rather than seeking to hurt anyone.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAfter a cigarette outside the station, accompanied by a Garda, he ran off and scaled a closed gate. (clareecho.ie)
- whatA Garda chased him but fell back when trying to scale the gate and lost sight of him. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe escape happened at Ennis Garda Station while the prisoner was in custody. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe escape happened on 25 November 2024. (clareecho.ie)
- causeThe prisoner asked for a cigarette break while in custody. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationLocal Garda members were alerted and all areas of Ennis town were patrolled. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationHe remained at large until he was spotted and arrested by a Garda in Limerick on 4 December. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody from Ennis Garda Station on 25 November 2024. (clareecho.ie)
- courtOn appeal at Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford reduced the consecutive escape sentence to three months. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe judge said there was nothing wrong in principle with the District Court sentence, but reduced it given the long affray sentence and his youth at the time. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceIn the District Court he received a six-month prison term, consecutive to a 32-month sentence for affray. (clareecho.ie)
- otherHis solicitor said he fled because he was afraid of a looming sentencing for an affray offence. (clareecho.ie)
- otherHis solicitor said he ran away rather than seeking to hurt anyone. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 May2025Prisoner 'goes up in puff of smoke' & absconds while on permitted cigarette break at Ennis Garda Station - Clare Echo
Reports the Circuit Court appeal in which the six-month escape sentence was reduced to three months, and gives the details of the escape and the subsequent arrest.
convicted, Daniel McCarthy, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel McCarthy