CROSS-BORDER INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED AFTER PRISON VAN RAMMED AT CLONTIBRET

An incident room has been established at Monaghan Garda Station to investigate the ramming of a prison van in the Clontibret area of Co Monaghan on the evening of Wednesday July 15 last. The Irish Prison Service vehicle was transporting a prisoner who had earlier appeared at a sittings of the Circuit Criminal Court in Monaghan Town when it was struck by a goldcoloured BMW X5 jeep at Kilcrow, Clontibret at 6.45 pm, in an apparent attempt to help the prisoner escape.

No one was injured in the incident and the prisoner remained in custody. The burnt-out jeep was located a short distance from the scene of the hit and run. A number of men were observed leaving the scene in a Northern Ireland-registered Audi A4 which was grey or black in colour. The Police Service of Northern Ireland have confirmed that they are assisting the Gardaí in their enquiries. The Gardaí in Monaghan have requested anyone who witnessed the collision or saw either the BMW or Audi in the Clontibret…