Four escape Whithorn police jail

Two suspected murderers are among four men who yesterday morning escaped from the Whithorn Police Station in Westmoreland.

Up to late yesterday, the police were continuing their search for the men who managed to break out of the police lock-up.

In addition to the suspected killers, the escapees include a 19-year-old who was arrested in connection with a rape incident and one man who was charged with receiving stolen property.

Hole in the wall

Reports from the Whithorn police are that some time after 4 a.m. the men made a hole in the wall of the cell and escaped.

The cell block was holding nine prisoners at the time, but the five others who were in an adjoining cell did not escape.

The police have since identified the escapees as:

• 27-year-old Omar Ralph, also known as 'Kid Ralph', who was charged for the December 2010 murder of Lyndon Seivwright;
• 30-year-old Edward Smalling, also known as 'Eddy" and 'Blacks', who was charged for receiving stolen property;
• 20-year-old Romain Smith, who was charged for the January 2011 murder of Ryan Langley;
• 19-year-old Aldane Peterkin, who was charged for rape.