POLICE have refused to say how escaped prisoner Thomas Valliday was arrested amid claims online that he handed himself in.
The 27-year-old convicted murderer from west Belfast remained at large for several days after escaping from prison staff on Friday during an outpatient hospital visit.
Police said they arrested the Maghaberry life sentence prisoner on Monday evening following "support and assistance from the public".
However, following his arrest internet users speculated that Valliday may have handed himself in at a police station or was arrested by arrangement.
Valliday was jailed for murdering father-of-two Frank 'Bap' McGreevy at his west Belfast home in March 2008.
He was high on a cocktail of drink and drugs when he battered the 51-year-old former IRA prisoner with weapons including a pick-axe handle.
Before his arrest on Monday police had urged Valliday to "hand himself in to the authorities without any further delay".
When questioned on his arrest Superintendent Sean Wright said yesterday in a statement: "Thomas Valliday was arrested by police officers who were patrolling in Belfast.
"This arrest followed significant police investigations in the course of which we received considerable community support.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank local community representatives who worked closely with police throughout and members of the public who offered their assistance."
When asked again to clarify whether Valliday handed himself in, a PSNI spokeswoman said: "We have nothing further to add to our earlier line."
On Monday the Department of Justice apologised after appealing for information on Valliday using a seven-year-old photograph.
