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Irish Prison Service

Fugitive prisoner stabbed himself in stomach as police approached

He is suspected of carrying out two armed robberies while on the run from police.

Updated 16.35pm

ESCAPED PRISONER DEREK Brockwell is suspected of carrying out two armed robberies while on the run from police.

Yesterday evening, between approximately 5.45pm and just after 6.00pm, two armed robberies were reported to police, one in the Howard Street area and one in the Dublin Road area of Belfast.

Police in Northern Ireland said the suspect in both instances was described as being armed with a knife.

Briefing the media today on the capture of escaped prisoner Derek Brockwell, Superintendent Paula Hilman said their investigations in to the two armed robberies led to local police officers identifying Brockwell outside a licensed premises on Bedford Street.

They kept a watch on the individual until colleagues from the Armed Response Unit arrived. The Armed Response Units were deployed, as they approached the male, he proceeded to harm himself and a taser was used to detain the male.

Brockwell was detained at around 7pm yesterday evening. 

An eyewitness told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that about five or six police officers surrounded the man who was sitting outside the Bridge House pub in the city centre.

The witness said that Brockwell appeared to be holding a weapon and a struggle ensued. He was then tasered and put to the ground. The prisoner was taken to hospital after the arrest.

No other persons were arrested by officers as part of the operation.

Detective Sergeant Kenneth Leckley from the PSNI said:

“A man unlawfully at large from the Republic of Ireland was located by police in Belfast city centre following a police operation this evening.

A taser was deployed during the operation and the Police Ombudsman has been informed.

Giving more details on the arrest in a separate statement, Superintendent Darrin Jones said that as police approached Brockwell “he produced a knife and proceeded to stab himself in the abdomen”.

“To ensure no further injuries were caused to the man or others Police discharged a taser. He was then taken to hospital for treatment.

“As is normal procedure in such circumstances Police have self-referred to the Police Ombudsman’s office.”

Superintendent Hilman said she wanted to recognise the good work of the response officers and the Armed Response Unit.

The actions of these officers has also ensured that the wider community in Belfast remained safe.

She issued an appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incidents in Howard Street and on the Dublin Road to contact detectives at Musgrave Street Police Station.

Brockwell escaped from custody on Tuesday during a scheduled visit to Tallaght Hospital, stabbing two prison officers and fleeing on a motorbike.

The Minister for Justice has ordered a report into the incident.

Brockwell, described as as a ‘violent, hardened prisoner’, was serving a seven-year sentence at Portlaoise prison for robbery and possession of firearms.

He had previously escaped from custody in the United Kingdom, where he was serving several life sentences for armed robbery.

Brockwell had an armed Garda escort until last year.

Both prison officers injured in Tuesday’s escape are recovering from their injuries, having undergone surgery that night.

- With reporting from Rónán Duffy, Daragh Brophy, Christina Finn.

Read: Why wasn’t a prisoner on the run from the UK sent back there when he was arrested? >

“There was blood everywhere”: Eyewitness describes Derek Brockwell’s escape from Tallaght Hospital >

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    Mute Daniel Morrissey
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:10 PM

    Can someone put sanctions on Brazil for this?

    Our government want to cut our national herd to support this massacre of forestation

    305
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    Mute John Black
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:15 PM

    @Daniel Morrissey: we’re one of the least forested countries worldwide so we’re not ones to be pointing fingers

    77
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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:31 PM

    @Daniel Morrissey: just texted eamonn Daniel still hasn’t got back to me. Good chance him asleep.

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    Mute john smith iv
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:35 PM

    @John Black: that’s going back hundreds of years.

    20
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    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:37 PM

    @John Black: You do realise that it wasn’t the Irish that destroyed our own forests. There were huge areas of forestry in Ireland about the time Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland. As a reward many of his soldiers where given large amounts of lands and created large estates. Native timber was harvested for massive profits.

    If you ever passed Lismore Castle in Waterford you will of stopped and admired its beauty. What’s not known is that Lismore is in the Blackwater Valley and it used to be one of Irelands largest forests. It was cut down and sold for profit. Destroyed by an English landlord so he could build himself a great house. We are lucky we live in a republic as most of rivers and forests and owned by the people of Ireland. For example in the North Lough Neagh is owned by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland is owned by a British Earl. Many of the forests in the UK are privately owned.

    78
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    Mute John Black
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:12 PM

    @john smith iv: and we should be replanting them

    34
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    Mute John Black
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:14 PM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: I do realise this, and it’s not an excuse to be pointing fingers at other countries when we are not actively trying to increase our forested area (and those damaging coniferous forests are as bad as having no forest)

    25
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    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:41 PM

    @John Black: Its not an excuse! The govt have never promoted native forestry in Ireland. Don’t blame the people blame those in power. Have you seen the current licensing system. There are 4000 in the backlog and farmers have to wait years to get permission to plant trees including native tress.

    42
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    Mute JMcB
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:52 PM

    @John Black: the English had a hand in that. Rule britania needed wood for their ships and ours was handy for them

    29
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    Mute P Mc G
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    Nov 13th 2021, 7:30 AM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: *will have. ‘will of’ is nonsensical grammar.

    11
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    Mute wormtubes
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    Nov 13th 2021, 9:19 AM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: coillte are actively growing native forests.

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    Mute TrollsRrealpeople2
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    Nov 13th 2021, 10:22 AM

    @P Mc G: Thanks for point that out. Helps everyone understand his point better. Ffs

    1
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    Mute EillieEs
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    Nov 13th 2021, 10:56 AM

    @Daniel Morrissey: why are animals owned by individual farmers referred to as the ‘national herd’? Farming is the only industry where this kind of language is used, making it sound like we all somehow benefit from the destruction of the rainforest to feed animals reared in Ireland to be exported abroad. ‘National’ suggests public ownership as in the national broadcaster, the national grid, Aer Lingus was known as the national airline before it was sold off so why do you use the term national when the cattle aren’t owned by the public?

    9
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    Mute Billy Davies
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:08 PM

    And EU considering signing the mercusor deal with Brazil and South America. That deal needs to be thrown in the recycling bin.

    125
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    Mute To Mt
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:44 PM

    And yet a length of 2×1 is still 3 times the price it was a year ago

    117
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    Mute John Murphy
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:52 PM

    @To Mt: it looks like they aren’t even harvesting the wood. They are just letting it burn so it can be farmed for a few years before it goes barren.

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    Mute To Mt
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:58 PM

    @John Murphy: I just say its hyper inflation. Not a lot of people see the bubble and its gonna be bigger this time. I really hope I’m wrong though.

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:03 PM

    @John Murphy: It’s the hipsters and their avocados.

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    Mute
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:28 PM

    @John Murphy: in some parts of the Amazon they use tractors with massive chains and drag the ground clean into a heap then use the sterile land to grow oil palm which is found in lots of products from butter to Nutella. They also grow sorghum which is shipped around the world to feed animals and for human consumption.

    24
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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:57 PM

    I just can’t comprehend the size of that rainforest, I remember in school 30 years ago they were talking about the destruction in the Amazon.

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    Mute Joe Moynihan
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:08 PM

    Should we tell the big noises in Glasgow

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    Mute Damo
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:32 PM

    Not to worry.
    All those deflated tyres on SUV’s in Glasgow will make up for this in jig time…

    40
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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Nov 13th 2021, 3:20 AM

    Bolsonaro’s argument’s basically been like this: you lot in Europe & the US can’t tell us what to do since you deforested your own lands for development and we have that right too.

    That’s always fascinated me since superficially he does have a point. It’s just that we’ve all done so much of that, that their bit is now one of the last bits on the planet.

    Thankfully he’s facing an election next year and his polling numbers aren’t very good atm.

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    Mute Michael Dowling
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    Nov 13th 2021, 8:29 AM

    Simple solution tax the Irish. Seems to be the way forward. Greens policy.

    34
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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:22 PM

    Will yez all just belt up. Do yez not know that the whole problem is caused by Irish cows farting?

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    Mute Michael Creagh
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    Nov 13th 2021, 9:41 AM

    It’s ok,cop26 is all over it.

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    Mute patrick malone
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    Nov 13th 2021, 2:36 PM

    I think it’s plain and simple cop on

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