The prisoner was being treated at a Co. Mayo hospital when he escaped custody
A prisoner who escaped from custody while being treated at a Mayo hospital has been re-arrested by gardai after he was allegedly caught breaking into a church in Co Offaly last night.
The 33-year-old man was on remand in Castlerea Prison on a burglary charge, fled the hospital at around 10am on Saturday.
However, he was re-arrested last night, after Gardai responded to a call that a burglary was in progress at Clare Catholic Church at around 10.30pm.
Speaking to Independent.ie, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service confirmed the man was in custody.
A 29-year-old woman was arrested alongside the man.
Both are expected to appear before Portlaoise District Court this morning.
Gardai had been searching for the man over the past 72 hours following his escape.
"It has now been established that the male suspect involved in this investigation is the same person who fled from custody having been admitted to Mayo General Hospital from Castlerea Prison," a garda spokesman said.
