AN Irish prisoner who escaped from jail last night has been arrested following a joint manhunt by Gardai and the Defence Forces.
The male convict, who is serving more than two years for an armed robbery, fled from the Shelton Abbey Prison in Co. Wicklow late yesterday evening.
Local gardai were immediately informed and a search for the escapee began.
At about 10am this morning, the Defence Forces were also notified and around 50 troops from Dublin’s Cathal Brugha barracks were brought in to assist in the manhunt.
The fugitive was finally detained at around 3pm this afternoon, after more than 15 hours on the run.
The man was in phone contact with gardai and claimed he was armed, according to the Irish Independent.
Nevertheless, his arrest came without incident.
"The Defence Force also provided valuable assistance and in the region of 50 troops were dispatched from Cathal Brugha barracks to assist the search," a source told the paper.
Shelton Abbey Prison is an open facility operated by the Irish Prison Service around 70km (44 miles) south of Dublin.
