THE IRISH PRISON Service has confirmed to TheJournal.ie that an inmate has escaped from his prison in Cavan.

The convicted man absconded from Loughan House Open Centre this evening, said a spokesperson for the IPS.

Gardaí have been notified that the man is “unlawfully at large” and a search is underway.

Gardaí told TheJournal.ie that details of the prisoner have been circulated to all ports and airports around the country.

It is understood that the missing prisoner is 25-year-old Martin McDermott. The inmate, originally from Raphoe in Donegal, is serving a seven-year sentence for the manslaughter of Garda Gary McLoughlin.

He was sentenced last summer for the part he played in the Garda’s death. He had led police on a 30km high-speed chase before crashing into McLoughlin’s patrol car on 13 December 2009.

Loughan House is an open, low security prison for men over the age of 18 and who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.

Last year: Man whose car chase lead to garda death is jailed>