Prisoner Lee McDonnell, who is described "violent and unpredictable" escaped when the vehicle stopped at the shop in Dublin, Ireland
A dangerous prisoner is on the run after escaping from a prison van after a hospital visit.
Armed robber Lee McDonnell who is described as "violent and unpredictable" broke free when the van stopped for food at a chippie.
Police are now hunting for the dangerous thug in a bid to return him to jail.
McDonnell was being brought to Dublin from Portlaoise Prison for a hospital appointment when he made the jail break.
The Irish Mirror understands he managed to get his hands out of the cuffs and burst from the van when it stopped to get food at a chip shop in Dublin.
McDonnell, 23, of Lough Conn Road, Ballyfermot, has 74 previous convictions.
In 2012 he was convicted of a violent attack on a shop keeper where he battered him with the butt of a replica handgun.
He was previously sentenced to four years in jail for hijacking a car.
McDonnell pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station, Ballyfermot, on January 21, 2012.
He also pleaded guilty to robbing cigarettes and a sunglasses case and to robbing Tadas Urbanavicius, the shop assistant, on the same occasion.
Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six-year sentence but suspended the last three years for three years.
He said he was doing this mainly because of McDonnell's young age.
Detective Garda Ronan Coffey told the court that McDonnell and two other men were filmed on garda CCTV cameras pulling into the service station and going into the shop.
He said that one man pulled out a knife and jumped over the counter.
McDonnell pulled out what staff thought was a real handgun and demanded to know where the safe was.
At one stage McDonnell struck the shop assistant, Mr Urbanavicius, on the back of the head with the butt of the gun.
The raiders were told the safe was on a time-lock and tried to dislodge it but failed.
They then took Mr Urbanavicius's phone and his wallet containing €300 in cash.
McDonnell struck him again to his left eye.
As they left the man with the knife grabbed two bottles of wine.
Det Coffey told the court that a witness who was standing in the forecourt tried to film the robbers as they left the shop.
McDonnell pointed the replica gun at the man, who then hid behind a van when he saw that the gun looked like it was cocked.
McDonnell was later arrested and interviewed eight times but made no admissions.
Gardai found the replica pistol in a sweet tin buried under a tree behind some houses.
Det Coffey said McDonnell's previous convictions include robbery and assault causing harm which were dealt with in the Children's Court.
