Gardaí are searching for a man who escaped from a garda station in Co Louth last night.
The man, who is in his 30s and linked to one of Drogheda's two feuding criminal gangs, was arrested as part of an investigation into money laundering offences.
He was questioned at Drogheda Garda Station and was due in court today.
However at around 9pm last night he was allowed out of his cell for a cigarette and succeeded in running out of the station.
Garda Headquarters confirmed tonight they are "investigating the escape from garda custody of a male on Thursday 14 December 2023".
Over 200 people were involved in Drogheda feud which led to assaults, kidnappings, petrol bombings, homes being burned out and four murders including that of 17-year-old Keane Mulready Woods.
Gardaí set up Operation Stratus to clamp down on the gangs and over 150 suspects were targeted.
A large number of dangerous criminals have been imprisoned, including senior gang member Paul Crosby.
He was jailed for 10 years at the Special Criminal Court for bringing Keane Mulready Woods to the house in Drogheda where he was murdered and dismembered.
His co accused Gerard Cruise was jailed for seven years.
Another gang leader Robbie Lawlor, who ordered the abduction and murder of Keane Mulready Woods, was subsequently shot dead in Belfast, while rival gang leader Cornelius Price died after a long illness in hospital in Wales.
