Moment feared gangland criminal John Mangan is released from prison

The driver of the van that collected the notorious criminal flipped the middle finger at our cameraman as he drove out of the prison

This is the moment feared gangland criminal John Mangan was released from prison this morning.

Notorious criminal Mangan (54), who was previously named in court as being involved in the murders of mobster Martin ‘Marlo’ Hyland and innocent plumber Anthony Campbell walked free from Portlaoise Prison just before 10am this morning – having served time for firearms and drugs.

A white van was facilitated inside the front of the entrance of the prison this morning – with Mangan seen jumping into the back of it.

The driver of the van then flipped the middle finger at our cameraman as he drove out of the prison.

Sources say Mangan, who is a feared gangland criminal, has provided no address to prison authorities – and is now free to go wherever he wants.

It comes after he had only recently escaped custody at Loughan House open prison, going on a rampage across the country before being caught and sent to serve the remainder of his sentence in the country’s maximum security prison in Portlaoise.

Recently it has emerged that years before the killings of innocent plumber Anthony Campbell and gangster Marlon Hyland, that Mangan was in fact the chief suspect in a horror hit-and-run incident that saw innocent dad Anthony Flemming (48) hospitalised and days later die from his injuries in December 2002.

Anthony Fleming killed in a hit and run

Speaking exclusively to The Irish Mirror about her search for justice, Anthony’s daughter Rose, who was just 11 years old when her dad died, told us if Mangan was held responsible all those years ago, then the horrific murders of Hyland and Anthony Campbell may never have occurred.

“When it first happened we thought we could kind of forgive him but then the fact that he left the scene and that he went on to become a gangland figure who was said to have killed other people is awful.

“If he was convicted then maybe that would have been the end for him then and there. That plays on your mind,” she said.

“Anthony Campbell’s mother is always out there looking for justice and it’s a cold case now.

“Every time I see her my heart goes out to her,” she added.

Tragic dad Anthony Flemming had just gone to an ATM near Hanlon’s Corner to take out money to buy his kids’ Christmas presents and was crossing the road to flag down a taxi when a motorcyclist knocked him down and then fled the scene.

Speaking about the perpetrator his daughter told us: “He was held at the scene I think by a taxi driver and then he got on the bike and he just drove off

“He left my Dad on the side of the road like he was a piece of rubbish.”

Tragically Anthony died on December 8, 2002, and a jury at a 2004 inquest into his death ultimately determined that his death was as a result of the hit-and-run.

Mangan, of Whitestown Green, Blanchardstown, was among dozens of criminals arrested in relation to the shocking double murder of mobster ‘Marlo’ Hyland and innocent plumber Anthony Campbell in December 2006.

However, gardai did not charge him despite considering him a suspect.

In March 2012, journalist Paul Williams gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court alleging Willie Hynes and John Mangan were responsible for the double murder, and that the late Eamon ‘The Don’ Dunne acted as the getaway driver.

The reporter said two former lieutenants of Hyland were allegedly involved in the murders and named them as Hynes and Mangan.

Mangan was a key member of the gang that was led by Hyland.