Updated at 2.20pm
THE GOVERNMENT IS insisting there is “no evidence” to show that cutbacks were a contributing factor in the escape of Derek Brockwell earlier this week.
Brockwell – who was described by prison officers as a “violent, hardened” criminal – escaped from custody during a scheduled visit to Tallaght Hospital on Tuesday.
He was tracked down and re-arrested in Belfast last night. The two prison officers stabbed by Brockwell as he made his escape are still recovering in hospital.
Speaking yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that the incident had nothing to do with budget cutbacks.
However, reports suggest that requests from prison authorities for an armed garda escort to be provided during Brockwell’s planned hospital visits were turned down a number of times.
Speaking during Leader’s Questions this afternoon, Labour Minister Alex White said that while he didn’t want to comment on the particulars of this week’s incident, he agreed with the Taoiseach that there was “no evidence” cutbacks were to blame for what had happened.
There was “no evidence at all” for the assertion he told Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Niall Collins – before going on to talk-up recent garda investment in security services, like recruitment to Templemore and new garda vehicles.
The FF politician described the Communications Minister’s take on the situation as “amazing, quite frankly”.
After being pressed again on the issue again by Collins, White again insisted that despite the Limerick deputy’s “bleatings” there was no evidence for his claims.
On the question of how many other requests for armed garda escorts had been refused, White said he didn’t have an answer to hand, but that he would check up on the figure and get back to the Fianna Fáil TD.
Taoiseach
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has also been speaking about the Brockwell case this morning.
“Yesterday in the Dáil I expressed the sympathy of the government with the prison officers who were stabbed.
“I’m glad the individual was apprehended in Belfast. It shows the level of cooperation between the gardaí and the PSNI.
“The Minister for Justice has asked for a full report into the matter,” Kenny added.
When asked if the government would support calls for prison officers to have more equipment, such as stab vests, he said:
“Yes, of course the Government will support proper equipment and proper facilities, both for gardaí and for prison officers and those in the Defence Forces in general.”
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