A manhunt is underway for three prisoners who have escaped from an open prison – two years after they were detained over burglary raids on more than 50 homes.
Police have warned the public not to approach Jason MacDonagh, 34, Daniel Harty, 34, and Barney Casey, 24, who broke out of Springhill Open Prison near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on Monday evening.
All three, originally from Ireland, were doing time for their roles in a high-value burglary spree in which they robbed £300,000 worth of jewellery and cash from homes across the UK in 2023.
The men were dressed in grey jogging bottoms or standard-issue tracksuits as they made their getaway.
MacDonagh is described as a white man with ginger hair, about 5ft 9in tall and of medium build. Casey is also white, about 5ft 9in, of small build, and has black hair. Harty is a white man, 5ft 9in tall, of slim build, with black hair and a black beard.
The trio were part of a masked gang that would target primarily unoccupied homes, breaking in by smashing windows or forcing open doors and gates.
Chilling CCTV footage captured the group in action, showing them storming properties in broad daylight.
In one video, two gang members can be seen taking out a bay window from a house while cars pass by a few yards away.
The group breaks into a house when a woman is inside in another unsettling footage. Before the burglars run away without finding anything, she can be seen yelling in fear.
Police are encouraging anyone who sees the fugitives not to approach them and instead call 999 immediately.
The gang were eventually captured after detectives scoured hours of CCTV which captured them using two getaway cars, an Audi R3 and a VW Golf, on false plates.
Jason MacDonaugh was identified as the buyer and seller of the Audi. Police were then able to connect his associates to the crimes which also saw them strike near Bristol and Warwickshire.
Phone records also connected the gang to the location of the burglaries.
Police also identified fellow gang members Darren O’Halloran, 38, and Barney Casey, 22, to Yorkshire where they were arrested in early February.
The fourth member of the gang, Daniel Harty, 32, was arrested in Wales later the same month.
All four were convicted of conspiracy to burgle following a trial. They were imprisoned for a total of nearly 50 years at Birmingham Crown Court.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the trio of men had connections with many addresses in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
‘Investigators are appealing for the public’s help in tracing three prison absconders,’ said the spokesman.
‘Jason MacDonagh, aged 34 years, Daniel Harty, also aged 34 years and Barney Casey, aged 24 years, all absconded from HMP Springhill at about 6 pm on Monday.
‘MacDonagh is a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build and has ginger hair. He has facial hair and was last seen wearing grey tracksuit trousers and a white vest.
‘Casey is also a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of small build and has black hair. He has slight facial hair and a moustache and goatee beard. He was last seen wearing a grey tracksuit.
‘Harty is a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build with black hair and a black beard. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and grey joggers.
‘They are known to frequent Bristol, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Leeds, Bradford, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.’
Police staff investigator, Claire Busby said: ‘We are appealing to the public for any information around MacDonagh, Casey and Harty’s whereabouts, or anyone who may see them to get in touch.
‘We would advise members of the public not to approach them, but to call 999 instead. If you have any information as to where they may be, you can call 101. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.’
Open prisons – there’s your first problem. However, open prisons and escapes have been about for years, but why were these prisoners in an open prison in the first place?
I doubt it was the great escape, they probably walked around the barrier and waved to the guard on their way out, and it beggars belief – in an open prison, yet they shouldn’t be approached. You really couldn’t make this up!
They were convicted of over 50 years – why on earth were they even in an open prison? Meanwhile, Lucy Connolly is still being held and treated appallingly in prison for saying hurty words.
Don’t approach them, why would anyone want to?
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 