1983 escape IRIS
24/07/2008
15:00
Page 16
THE GREATEST ESCAPE the rearguard. Some thought it was a planned act of revenge against screws who had beaten prisoners during the blanket protest. For many of the screws, this thought was uppermost in their minds too. The escapers had all been briefed to hold their positions and their screws until Bobby had obtained a report from each location. This was done to avoid confusion and to allow everyone to calm down. It also allowed for unforeseen developments to be dealt with. In C Wing, there was complete silence. Hooded screws were lying face down at the top of the wing, with Jaz and Blute kneeling across their backs. Three masked members of the rearguard, armed with hammers and chisels, stood over them. The men in • GERARD ‘BLUTE’ McDONNELL the canteen, uninvolved in the escape and lying wounded and he was told that he too with no prior knowledge of it, were told to would be shot if he didn’t agree to operate remain where they were. The TV had been the control room as though all was normal. He agreed and was told to lie on the floor switched off. The silence was broken by the sound of of the control room, guarded by Gerry. Bobby then took the MO from the whistling from the bottom of the wing. Paul Duffy, a prisoner who knew nothing of the escape and who had heard none of the commotion, emerged from his cell and walked up the wing, arms swinging, whistling away, without a care in the world and oblivious to all around him. He walked about a dozen paces before he just fizzled out. The whistle trailed off, the stride became a tentative step before coming to a halt. The jaunty swinging diminished, until his arms hung limply by his side and the smiling face changed to puzzlement, then disbelief. He froze about 15 feet from the scene at the top of the wing. Amid laughter, Joe Simpson took him gently by the arm and led him into the canteen. In the circle, Adams had to be replaced in case anyone outside the block contacted the control room. A screw from D Wing, who had experience of working in the control room, had been identified earlier as a replacement for Adams. Bobby went to D Wing and took him to the circle. The screw was very pale and nervous. He saw Adams • The control room in H7 16
IRIS
screws’ canteen to Adams, who had been put on a mattress on the floor of the women’s toilet. The MO agreed to treat him and gave his word that he would not make any attempt to raise the alarm. He was guarded throughout his treatment. (Adams later made a full recovery – he was back on duty within weeks.) The next phase of the operation was to secure the front gate of the block. Seán McGlinchey and Joe Corey stripped two screws of their uniforms, donned them and went to the circle. Seán was given a pistol. Bik then walked down the yard to the front gate with a brush and shovel slung over his shoulder and a silenced gun in his pocket. He was conscious of the eyes of his comrades following him from cell windows on either side of the yard. He found himself laughing nervously. Joe and Seán followed 30 yards behind, close enough to be seen to be escorting Bik but far enough away from the screw at the gate to be unable to recognise them. The screw admitted Bik to the area between the two front gates. It was a longestablished practice that he cleaned this area. When the screw opened the gate for the escort, Bik stuck the silencer to the back of his neck and Seán pointed a pistol at his face. He was well and truly caught. The screw’s keys were taken and Seán and Joe took up the front gate duty. The entrance to H8 was opposite H7, only 30 yards away, but it was unoccupied and therefore no screws were on duty at its front gate. Bik ordered the screw to put his hands in his pockets and to walk slowly towards the front door. There were alarm buttons to the right and left in the entrance to the circle and Bik made it clear that if he attempted to run towards either of them, he would immediately be shot. He was taken into the circle and placed under Tony’s guard in the screws’ canteen. All areas of H7 were now secure. Preparations began for the arrival of the food lorry.