By Graham Brown

A PRISONER who went on the run from an Angus open prison for more than three years was back in the dock to face justice yesterday after extradition from Ireland.

Patrick Boyle (28) of Carfin Street, Govanhill, Glasgow, appeared from custody at Forfar where he admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by failing to return to Noranside prison, near Forfar, on July 19, 2004.

The court heard Boyle, who was jailed for five years and three months at Edinburgh High Court in April 2002 for assault to severe injury and robbery, had finally been re-arrested on August 1 after being at large for a lengthy period.

Fiscal depute Anne Hart told the court Boyle had been traced to Ireland and extradition proceedings were instigated after a warrant request to the authorities there was granted.

The court heard that Strathclyde Police were closely involved in the case, working alongside their Irish counterparts and the Crown Office.

“A European arrest warrant was issued in relation to Mr Boyle and it was eventually signed in August 2006,” added Mrs Hart.

After being arrested at the beginning of this month, Boyle had appeared in court in Forfar on petition and yesterday was before Sheriff R. Fraser on a reduced summary charge.

Defence agent John Clancy told the court his client’s earliest release date was now November, next year.

Sheriff Clark imposed a sentence of four months on Boyle, to run consecutively to the conclusion of his current jail period.

The sheriff said he had given a two-month discount to the accused in light of his early plea in the matter.

Boyle was reportedly the longest on-the-run prisoner from the open estate in Tayside, comprising the establishments at Noranside and Castle Huntly, just outside Dundee.