John Daly and four associates boarded a plane for the island on 24 August and sources say he has no immediate plans to return. Daly was released from prison three weeks ago after serving six years of a nine year-sentence for armed robbery.

Detectives believe that his life is in imminent danger and have received information that a criminal he met in prison has offered a contract to have him killed. There are also rumours that renegade republicans want him dead.

The 27 year-old is said to be taking the threat seriously and decided to go abroad to wait for the pressure to die down. He is officially due to sign papers signifying the end of his sentence on Thursday but it is unclear if he will appear at Cork prison.

Four of Daly's close friends . . . who are all known to gardai . . . are with him in Lanzarote.

Daly grew close to members of the Keane crime gang from Limerick while in Portlaoise prison and was regarded as untouchable because of that connection. However, when he phoned the Joe Duffy show from his cell last May to remonstrate with Sunday World crime editor Paul Williams, things quickly changed.

There was a public outcry that dangerous criminals had ready access to mobile phones and the prison service launched an unprecedented crackdown on inmates. An inch-by-inch search of the jail recovered 17 mobile phones, alcohol, knives, cocaine and ecstasy. Two pet budgies were also found. Prisoners blamed Daly for the fact that their previously cushy regime had come to an end. After the radio incident, Daly was transferred to Cork prison for two months of solitary confinement and was released soon afterwards. He did not return to Portlaoise and was spared any potential attacks from inmates.

A file on his possession of the phone is with the DPP and if charged, he faces up to five years in jail.