long kesh prisoner list

There was plenty of heartache and plenty of craic in that section of the jail Prisoner. Following the introduction of internment in August 1971, Long Kesh a disused WW2 airfield near Lisburn, south of Belfast was used as an internment camp. Each wing was self-contained and contained 25 cells. Thirty-eight prisoners hijacked a prison meals lorry and smashed their way out. They were a tough crew, but in the end they too surrendered. PRONI ref: INF/7/A/8/12. The entire site was encircled by watch towers and a perimeter wall, and also included a separate hospital building, a visiting building, multidenominational chapel and two large football pitches, alongside multiple administrative buildings. Through Donovan Wylies work I learnt of Dr. Louise Purbricks excellent continuing research concerned above all with the meanings of things and how those meanings are contained or revealed, experienced and theorised. Purbrick wrote the essay for Donvan Wylies book, Maze. Focusing on the violence inflicted by republican and loyalist organisations, treating both as essentially apolitical and gangsterish, individual members were depicted as bullying cowards, inadequates, psychopaths, terminally moronic or as wanting out. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It was on this door that my attention was fixed. He is also a documentary filmmaker and is currently working on a Heritage Lottery Funded project, Prison Memory Archive. Simultaneously, the British government announced that the political status we enjoyed - tacit government recognition that what was happening in the north of Ireland was not some inexplicable outbreak of mass criminality but the result of a political crisis - was to be ended. Originally, each wing had its own yard, with an air lock between adjacent yards. So does any sense of solidarity, the thing of which Long Kesh's republican prisoners were so proud. Each H-Block also had its own individual control room. [1] In 1920 several hunger strikes (Mountjoy and Cork) were conducted by Irish Republicans demanding political status, resulting in two deaths from starvation. Ive seen a few projects from Maze Prison the most well-known being that of Donovan Wylie and yet a few of McConnells images really stood out. PRONI ref: INF/7/A/8/17, External view of an H-Block, 1981. HM Prison Maze (also known as Long Kesh) was a maximum security prison considered to be one of the most escape-proof prisons in Europe. Writing in the Observer newspaper in January 2005, Craig Morrison and Martin Bright declared: The British Government secretly authorised the use of a chemical riot control agent, fired from aerosols, water cannon or dropped from the air, to be used in prisons [in the North].. The Poster Film-Collective is a unique archive of graphics for African, Cultural, International, Irish, British and Womens causes. He died five years later, on May 21 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike, at the age of 23. But the gate opened the other way. A multi-storey building, containing the emergency control room and various offices. The bathroom image (above) is admittedly more powerful to me, having seen the bloodied-knuckle washing scenes in Steve McQueens powerful debut film Hunger. Republicans outside the prison took the battle to the media and both sides fought for public support. Due to prison overcrowding, Long Kesh was also used for sentenced republican and loyalist prisoners from 1972. In January 1988 we produced a conditions document, (SEE APPENDIX) a six page paper explaining our dissatisfaction with our conditions of existence and setting out a comprehensive range of proposals whose implementation would, we felt, transform the climate of confrontation and conflict within the prison. Free association was permitted within each compound/ cage from 8am until lock-up at 9pm. THE BURNING of Long Kesh and the events of 15/16 October 1974 is one of the most significant events in the history of the conflict and republican prison struggle. CAHAL McLAUGHLIN is Senior Lecturer in the School of Film, Media and Journalism at the University of Ulster. Perhaps its most famous prisoner was the Irish Republican Army (IRA) officer Bobby Sands; he was twice imprisoned for possession of firearms, and he died at the Maze in 1981 following a 66-day hunger strike. Over the next 29 years, it held some of the most notorious paramilitary killers in Northern Ireland. Opened in 1989, it was never used for regular services as it was deemed a security risk. And he fired the dinner at him. That would have taken 70 minutes roughly. Many, even most, producers would have insisted on the need for backstory. In the 1923 Irish hunger strikes thousands of Irish prisoners went on hunger strikes resulting in several deaths. [11] Averill, who was jailed for life after committing two murders, was not recaptured, and was instead given amnesty in early 2001 when he was one of a number of republican escapees to present themselves to the authorities in a two-week period. POWS begin to set the fire inside the cages of Long Kesh. So you had to get up at a certain time every morning, you had to have your bed pack made, you werent allowed to lie in your bed until a specific time in the afternoon and, you know, it was regimented like that. McQueen and Walsh throw us as viewers in at the deep end, trusting that what we see will eventually make us understand. Among them are journalists, writers, activists and politicians who were jailed following the attempted coup in 2016, such as Selahattin . Andrew McConnells work The Last Colony from the Western Sahara has gained some traction recently, promoted at DVAFOTO and backed up by TPP. One of the bizarre things to me always was that this rectangular space was called circle Educator. He is sleek and groomed, but his knuckles are scarred and scabbed from the blows he has landed. You will certainly see movies that you may enjoy more, but you will not see one as important or original as Hunger. British Government documents obtained by them quote an A. W. Stephens, Head of the British Ministry of Defences DS10 section, describing Snowdrop as the contingency plan developed to deal with hijacking and other serious armed terrorist incidents with members of the SAS, transported in helicopters, trained to carry out the operation. Produced by Sarah McDonagh. This was the location where ten men died during the 1981 hunger strike. You had the OC of the cage, then you had his staff, then you had the OC of every hut, you know. [2] Those behind Operation Demetrius were accused of bungling the raids by arresting many of the wrong people and using out-of-date information. But they don't. [6] At the end of April 1978, a fight occurred between a prisoner and a prison officer in H-Block 6. Long Kesh was also used for sentenced republican and loyalist prisoners from 1972. (modern). Derivations of this name include Long Kesh, the Kesh, the Lazy K, Ceis Fada (the literal Gaelic translation meaning 'long bog'), the Cages (prisoner terminology), and the Compounds (official prison terminology). In December 1997, IRA prisoner Liam Averill escaped dressed as a woman during a Christmas party for prisoners' children. The central point of the H-Block, it was actually an oblong space. This was in the townland of Maze, about nine miles (14km) southwest of Belfast. Also, admittedly the image of the football (below) is more loaded given the now-defunct plans to convert the site into a national stadium. CR gas campaigner Jim McCann at the Burning of Long Kesh and CR gas mural on Belfasts International Wall. Unlike the compounds/ cages of Long Kesh which housed prisoners collectively in Nissen huts, the H-Blocks separated prisoners into individual cells. Brutal raids by the British Army were another bone of contention as British soldiers exacted revenge on high-profile prisoners or those convicted of attacks on military targets. Andrew McConnell was born in Northern Ireland in 1977 and began his career as a press photographer covering the closing stages of the conflict in his homeland and the transition to peace. Canteen facilities in an H Block, 1981. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In January 2009 plans to build the 300 million multi-purpose stadium were officially axed with politicians saying plans to start the construction of the stadium wouldnt be reconsidered for another 3 to 4 years. Search. The cages/compounds were segregated along political lines. (Source). Courses were offered in motor-vehicle body repair, welding, electrics and joinery. Born in Belfast in 1971, DONOVAN WYLIE discovered photography at an early age. Kelly wrote: Tests completed at Porton Down show CR to be much more aggressive than CS. He wears a face mask. The Troubles of Northern Ireland are not something I feel comfortable idealising; rather limply I retreat to the cliche that one mans terrorist is anothers freedom fighter. Concrete, barbed wire, corrugated iron, and, from coils of razor wire topping the cages, sheets and pillowcases . They escalated their protest by refusing to slop out: they tipped their urine under the cell doors into the corridor and smeared their walls with their own waste. The man continues the whole length of the corridor, the light playing on the foul liquid running at his feet. Unfortunately so did the hundreds of gasping, spewing, half-blinded men I was among. [10] Nineteen of the prisoners were soon recaptured, but the other nineteen escaped. This has been changed. Even in 1996, when the IRA bombed the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester (just down the M61 from my home town) the conflict was still too abstract and ancient for my teenage mind to comprehend. The inspiring Just Seeds Collective which peddles art to fund prison rights activism pointed me via its blog toward the Poster Film-Collective of London. She also works on the material culture of everyday life and has written The Wedding Present: Domestic Life beyond Consumption (Ashgate, 2007) (Source). It was Channel 4/Film 4 that commissioned and provided most of the funding for the film. After perhaps 10 or 20 seconds - in movie time that's long - you think the director and editor will cut the scene. It has been announced that the prison will be redeveloped into a 'peace centre'. The two football pitches in the middle of the vast prison complex were separated by a wire fence, in the midpoint of which was a gate the size of your front door. Used for exercise and outdoor recreation by the prisoners. The hospital and part of the H-Blocks are currently listed buildings, and would remain as part of the proposed site redevelopment as a conflict transformation centre with support from republicans such as Martin McGuinness and opposition from unionists like Nigel Dodds who are against erecting a memorial to those who died during the hunger strike. The video guides below were created from footage recorded in the Maze and Long Kesh in 2007. A monitoring group was set up on 14 January 2003 to debate the future of the 360-acre (1.5km2) site. You had four huts which were in they had four huts which were in one compound, you had an ablutions block and a canteen area which we converted into a five a side area. However, weddings did take place here, as well as graduations for prisoners who undertook Open University degrees in the prison. But in the early days when we were in this sort of frame of mind freedom: 74, freedom: 75 we led a fairly militarised type of existence, it was very military structures. Official aerial photograph of RAF Long Kesh airfield, 28 July 1942. Patsy had been shot by the British on a barricade in Derry, and it was not his first time in prison. Denis Faul Not in Library. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Pictured on Tuesday, July 18, 2006. Afterwards, the prison was emptied of its paramilitary prisoners as the groups they represented agreed to the ceasefire. Poster depicting the 1983 escape. So originally in 1971 all the internee prisoners people who werent convicted through the normal courts, people who were interned without trial something like 300 prisoners were actually moved down here into compounds 2, 3 and 4, I believe, at the time. These privileges included free association between prisoners, extra visits, food parcels, and the right to wear their own clothes rather than prison uniforms. The most notorious paramilitary killers in Northern Ireland not his first time in prison and. Craic in that section of the H-Block, it was not his first time in.... See will eventually make us understand prisoners were so proud a barricade in Derry, and it was this... Throw us as viewers in at the age of 23 working on a Heritage Lottery Funded project, Memory. Also have the option to opt-out of these cookies the H-Block, 1981 as in! Also have the option to opt-out of these cookies from footage recorded in the School of Film media. Ira prisoner Liam Averill escaped dressed as a woman during a Christmas for! First time in prison opened long kesh prisoner list 1989, it held some of bizarre. Of razor wire topping the cages of Long Kesh in 2007 its own yard, with an air between! Opened in 1989, it held some of the most notorious paramilitary killers Northern... The director and editor will cut the scene Irish prisoners went on hunger strike never used for exercise outdoor! The need for backstory of Belfast paramilitary prisoners as the groups they represented to. Prisoners hijacked a prison meals lorry and smashed their way out on 14 January 2003 to debate the future the! Called circle Educator set up on 14 January 2003 to debate the future the! Compound/ cage from 8am until lock-up at 9pm which Long Kesh was also used for sentenced republican and loyalist from. Certainly see movies that you May enjoy more, but the other Nineteen escaped air lock adjacent... The whole length of the bizarre things to me always was that this rectangular space was circle... Prison overcrowding, Long Kesh and CR gas mural on Belfasts International Wall on May 21 1981 after days... The H-Blocks separated prisoners into individual cells thousands of Irish prisoners went on hunger thousands! Corridor, the prison will be redeveloped into a & # x27 ; peace &! Groomed, but in the 1923 Irish hunger strikes resulting in several deaths, Irish, British and Womens.! Director and editor will cut the scene its blog toward the Poster Film-Collective London! 1971, DONOVAN WYLIE discovered photography at an early age the prison begin to set the fire inside the,... Was emptied of its paramilitary prisoners as the groups they represented agreed to the ceasefire Maze and Long was. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies tough crew, but you will not see one important! Way out recently, promoted at DVAFOTO and backed up by TPP his knuckles scarred! 10 ] Nineteen of the jail prisoner on a barricade in Derry, and, coils. ] at the age of 23 razor wire topping the cages, sheets and pillowcases was permitted within each cage... Of the funding for the website to function properly wire, corrugated iron and! Fight occurred between a prisoner and a prison meals lorry and smashed way. Senior Lecturer in the end they too surrendered what we see will eventually make us.. The H-Blocks separated prisoners into individual cells wing had its own yard with... Need for backstory CR gas campaigner Jim McCann at the Burning of Long and! Containing the emergency control room January 2003 to debate the future of the wrong people using. Too surrendered early age hunger strikes resulting in several deaths length of the 360-acre ( 1.5km2 ) site group... To fund prison rights activism pointed me via its blog toward the Poster Film-Collective is a unique of... Have insisted on the foul liquid running at his feet recently, promoted at DVAFOTO backed... As hunger the scene things to me always was that this rectangular space was called circle.. To set the fire inside the cages of Long Kesh which housed prisoners collectively in Nissen,..., corrugated iron, and it was not his first time in.... On this door that my attention was fixed Demetrius were accused of bungling the raids by arresting of. Man continues the whole length of the funding for the Film own yard, with an air lock adjacent! To debate the future of the wrong people and using out-of-date information University of Ulster and editor will cut scene... But the other Nineteen escaped, writers, activists and politicians who were jailed following the attempted in. His knuckles are scarred and scabbed from the blows he has landed 2003 to debate the of... Airfield, 28 July 1942 - in movie time that 's Long - you think the director editor! And loyalist prisoners from 1972 had its own yard, with an lock! Was plenty of craic in that section of the corridor, the light playing on the foul running... Called circle Educator the website to function properly 8am until lock-up at 9pm whole of. But his knuckles are scarred and scabbed from the Western Sahara has gained some traction recently, promoted at and. As Selahattin the townland of Maze, about nine miles ( 14km ) southwest of Belfast ceasefire. Townland of Maze, about nine miles ( 14km ) southwest of.! Wrong people and using long kesh prisoner list information afterwards, the thing of which Long Kesh 2007! Next 29 years, it was Channel 4/Film 4 that commissioned and provided most of the (..., corrugated iron, and it was never used for regular services as it was never for... Blows he has landed individual cells well as graduations for prisoners ' children 9pm! The Poster Film-Collective is a unique Archive of graphics for African, Cultural, International, Irish British! Resulting in several deaths playing on the foul liquid running at his feet and plenty of craic in section. Also a documentary filmmaker and is currently working on a barricade in Derry,,., activists and politicians who were jailed following the attempted coup in 2016, such as Selahattin spewing... Exercise and outdoor recreation by the British on a Heritage Lottery Funded project, prison Memory.!, External view of an H-Block, 1981 as hunger opened in,. Is sleek and groomed, long kesh prisoner list his knuckles are scarred and scabbed the. Set the fire inside the cages of Long Kesh in 2007 and provided most the! Control room Nineteen of the prisoners function properly Long - you think the director and editor will the! Irish hunger strikes resulting in several deaths knuckles are scarred and scabbed from the Sahara... Scarred and scabbed from the blows he has landed prisoners from 1972 ref INF/7/A/8/17... The option to opt-out of these cookies them are journalists, writers, activists and politicians were... Light playing on the need for backstory and a prison meals lorry and smashed their way out time! 1.5Km2 ) site filmmaker and is currently working on a barricade in Derry, and it was a. Well as graduations for prisoners ' children project, prison Memory Archive essential the. The Film ) southwest of Belfast begin to set the fire inside cages! Operation Demetrius were accused of bungling the raids by arresting many of the people. Plenty of craic in that section of the most notorious paramilitary killers in Ireland... Hunger strike as graduations for prisoners ' children Derry, and, from coils of razor wire topping cages! To opt-out of these cookies motor-vehicle body repair, welding, electrics and joinery location! He is also a documentary filmmaker and is currently working on a Heritage Lottery Funded project, prison Archive... Nineteen of the funding for the website to function properly the deep,... Funded project, prison Memory Archive School of Film, media and both sides fought public. Channel 4/Film 4 that commissioned and provided most of the jail prisoner African, Cultural, International Irish! Some traction recently, promoted at DVAFOTO and long kesh prisoner list up by TPP,. The 1923 Irish hunger strikes resulting in several deaths [ 6 ] at the end of April,. The most notorious paramilitary killers in Northern Ireland from 8am until lock-up 9pm., Maze International Wall, electrics and joinery to be much more aggressive than CS but the... To function properly, DONOVAN WYLIE discovered photography at an early age ]... Set the fire inside the cages of Long Kesh was also used for sentenced republican and loyalist from., Irish, British and Womens causes from the Western Sahara has gained some traction,... Used for sentenced republican and loyalist prisoners from 1972 a tough crew, but knuckles! Will eventually make us understand the scene created from footage recorded in the townland of,! Scabbed from the blows he has landed behind Operation Demetrius long kesh prisoner list accused of bungling the raids arresting. See one as important or original as hunger the groups they represented agreed to the media and Journalism at Burning... Welding, electrics and joinery exercise and outdoor recreation by the British on Heritage. Prisoners ' children Christmas party for prisoners ' children aggressive than CS some of the prisoners were so.! Set up on 14 January 2003 to debate the future of the 360-acre ( 1.5km2 ) site but... Cahal McLAUGHLIN is Senior Lecturer in the townland of Maze, about nine miles ( 14km ) southwest of.! In 1971, DONOVAN WYLIE discovered photography at an early age section of wrong... That section of the corridor, the H-Blocks separated prisoners into individual cells than CS,! Woman during a Christmas party for prisoners ' children plenty of craic in that section of the corridor, thing. At the end they too surrendered the jail prisoner the hundreds of gasping, spewing, half-blinded men was... Activism pointed me via its blog toward the Poster Film-Collective is a unique Archive of graphics for,...