‘The Great Escape’

Posted by Jim on May 9, 2016

———————————————————–
A reprint of an article from The Starry Plough, detailing a historic
escape by Republican Socialists from Long Kesh prison 40 years ago this
week.
———————————————————–

“ONE OF THE MOST CAREFULLY PLANNED AND CAREFULLY EXECUTED ESCAPES IN
PRISON HISTORY ‘ is how one newspaper described the recent escape
from Long Kesh by nine IRSP members and supporters. Seven are still
free. Meanwhile massive searches and harrasment by British troops is
reported from Belfast and South Derry.

The nine men dug their tunnel from one of the four huts in Cage 5, known
as ‘mole hill’ because so many tunnels have been dug from
there. Despite vigilant warders the escapees dug a 40 foot tunnel
measuring only 18′ inches in diameter. The entrance of the tunnel
was concealed by tile glued to a block of wood.

“YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN LONG KESH”!

The escapers’ first problem occurred when they emerged from the tunnel
to find that they were still inside the prison. But they were prepared
for such an eventuality. They cut through a perimeter barbed fence and
scaled a 20 foot high wall with improvised grappling hooks and ropes
made from sheets in full view of British Army observation towers. Then,
as one British soldier put it, ‘they disappeared into thin
air!’

The following morning their fellow prisoners refused to leave their huts
to delay the discovery of the escape. It was only when CHARLES O’DOHERTY
from Old Park, Belfast was caught by the RUC in a field eight miles away
and checked out as routine, that the RUC discovered that they were
supposed to be in Long Kesh! They immediately contacted Long Kesh
Concentration Camp. It was only then that the escape was discovered.

The following day GERARD STEENSON of West Belfast was recaptured on the
M1 Motorway. The Northern Ireland Office then began to issue statements
in an attempt to discredit the escape and save face. They claimed that
if the escape had been better planned there could have been a mass break
out, which is, of course, rubbish. Then they warned the public to be on
the lookout for the escapers “some of whom are dangerous”. They may be
dangerous to British imperialism and its allies in Ireland but they are
the friends of the people. They are not criminals but political
prisoners. Of the escapers three were serving sentences, three were on
remand and three were awaiting trial, all for either political
‘offences’ or because of frame ups.

In the past there have been other escapes from Long Kesh. November 1974
saw 30 Provos tunnel their way to the perimeter wire, only a few got
away. One, HUGH CONEY was murdered by British troops, who could have
easily captured him. There is some fear that the same could happen to
the IRSP escapers, particularly if they should be discovered by the
sectarian UDR which is made up of ex-B Specials.In 1972 FRANCIS MCGUIGAN
walked out of Long Kesh dressed as a priest. JOHN FRANCIS GREEN did the
exact same in September 1973.

Since Long Kesh was opened in 1971, 48 prisoners have escaped. Since
they are political prisoners they usually continue to be active in
opposition to British imperialism in Ireland whereas if they were mere
criminals they would presumably leave the country altogether. This fact
accounts for the recapture of 35 of the 48 escapers. There are over 1200
political prisoners in Long Kesh.

HENRY DOGHERTY, BRENDAN MCMANUS, HAROLD FLYNN, (all from Belfast),
GERALD CLANCY (Tyrone), JOHN KELLY, JOHN EDDIE MCNICHOL and SEAMUS
O’KANE (all from South Derry) are still at liberty as we go to press. We
salute their ingenuity, courage and skill and hope that their freedom
will be long and fruitful to the struggle against British imperialism in
Ireland.

TWO ESCAPED BEFORE

Two of the men who are still free, ‘Hen’ DOGHERTY of Dock Row, Belfast
and Harry Flynn of Springhill Avenue, Belfast, have escaped before and
were only a few months in Long Kesh. Last May, while appearing in the
Crown Court in Crumlin Road they stood on each others shoulders to reach
the ceiling of their cell. They broke a hole in the skylight with a
bench from the cell and went onto the roof. From there they entered the
nearby firestation and nonchalantly four of them walked out the front
door. Unfortunately, the last man out didn’t knowit was intended to walk
out as the escape was an impromptu affair, and ran full speed up the
Crumlin Road. The RUC saw him and shouted “halt”, so that the other four
scuppered up the road after their comrade with bullets whistling around
their ears. They all got away. Dogherty and Flynn were recaptured about
three months ago in Belfast.”