A convicted prisoner is at large in Dublin after escaping custody on his way to receive medical treatment this morning.

The prisoner escaped while being transferred from Wheatfield Prison to St James's Hospital at around 8am.

The man is aged in his early 20s and is from west Dublin.

He is currently serving an eight-and-a-half year jail sentence for assaulting a homeless man.

He has around 30 previous convictions.

At least two prison officers were with him when he staged his escape.

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) said Gardaí were notified immediately and "provided with all relevant details in relation to the prisoner."

The IPS is investigating the circumstances surrounding the escape.