A convicted murderer has escaped from prison staff during a hospital visit in County Down.

Police are warning the public not to approach 27-year-old Thomas Valliday

He was jailed in 2010 and told he'd serve at least 17 years for battering a 51 year old man to death in Belfast, while high on drink and drugs.

He attacked the former IRA prisoner in his flat in Ross Street in Belfast in March 2008 with a variety of weapons.

Mr McGreevy died three days later.