Fury at IRA escape 'party' -- Republican Bulletin Board of Ireland

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Date Posted: Sat, Sep 20 2003, 12:13:45 GMT
Author: Liam
Subject: Fury at IRA escape 'party'

A Chairde

The Orangies can throw it yer face as they march past yer front door but republicans shouldn't ever celebrate anything. Give me a break, please!

Sl�n
Liam
Fury at IRA escape 'party'
Politicians and prison chiefs condemn Letterkenny event

By Jonathan McCambridge
jmccambridge@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

20 September 2003
PRISON officers today described as "contemptible" a republican party to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the IRA mass break-out from the Maze Prison.

And Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson branded the dinner dance last night "insensitive and inappropriate".

Around 800 republicans and their families joined members of Sinn Fein at a Donegal hotel for the event.

Sean Kelly, the IRA man convicted of the 1993 Shankill Road bombing in Belfast in which nine civilians were killed, was among those present.

One prison officer - James Ferris - died of a heart attack after being stabbed while attempting to stop the jail break, the biggest in the UK's history.

Sixteen escapees were later acquitted of his murder after the trial failed to prove the heart attack was caused by the stabbing.

In September 1983, 38 IRA men shot their way out of the top security jail. Some were recaptured but 19 got away.

The Prison Officers' Association said the event last night was "disgraceful." Spokesman Finlay Spratt said it was "contemptible" and an "outrage".

Lagan Valley MP Mr Donaldson said: "The event is insensitive, inappropriate and totally unnecessary.

"I've dealt with one prison officer involved in this situation, whose life has fallen apart. He's had to give up his work and was left with serious psychological damage which he will carry for the rest of his life.

"I think to celebrate the Maze escape is glorifying in acts of terrorism and rubbing salt into the wounds of those who were victimised as a result."

Mr Donaldson had called on Irish police to monitor the gathering and to arrest any escapees still wanted in Northern Ireland.

Former north Belfast MLA Fraser Agnew added: "It turns my stomach to even think that this event has gone ahead.

"It is an absolute disgrace and an insult to the family of the prison officer who died and the others who were injured."

Three of the escapees are still officially at large. They are Kevin Barry Art, Paul Brennan and Terence Kirby.

The Prison Service said they were not being "actively pursued".

But the event was defended by Maze escapee, Gerry Kelly of Sinn Fein. And he even suggested the break-out could be turned into a film.

"This was a massive event in republican history, the unionists might not like it, although if I may be so bold as to say, most people like an escape. I enjoyed the Colditz film, people would enjoy this if a film was made of it.

"People will have different views of this but the fact is that in republican folklore, if I can say that, or indeed in republican history, this is a very significant event."

Mr Kelly was jailed for life in 1973 for the Old Bailey and Scotland Yard bombings.

He was eventually captured in Holland after his escape from the Maze prison.

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Replies:

This is almost humorous..."what goes around..." (NT) -- Lynn, Sat, Sep 20 2003, 15:45:08 GMT
- Clinton to host Ahern on US trip -- Lynn, Sat, Sep 20 2003, 15:48:01 GMT