Maze Prison escape facts for kids

The Maze Prison escape (also known as the Great Escape by some) happened on September 25, 1983. It took place in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. HM Prison Maze was a very secure prison, thought to be one of the hardest to escape from in Europe.

This prison held people who were involved in armed groups during a time called The Troubles. In the biggest prison escape in UK history, 38 prisoners from the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) escaped from a part of the prison called H-Block 7 (H7). During the escape, one prison officer sadly died from a heart attack. Twenty other officers were hurt, and two were even shot with guns that had been secretly brought into the prison.

The escape was used by the IRA to show their strength and gain support. An official investigation into the escape mostly blamed the prison staff for what happened.

The Great Maze Prison Escape

The Maze Prison escape was a very important event during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. It showed how determined some groups were and caused a lot of discussion about prison security.

What Was The Maze Prison?

The Maze Prison, also known as Long Kesh, was a special prison designed to be extremely secure. It was built to hold people involved in political violence during The Troubles. These prisoners were often members of groups like the IRA. The prison had different sections called H-Blocks, which were shaped like the letter 'H'. Each block was meant to be very difficult to get out of.

How Did The Escape Happen?

On September 25, 1983, 38 prisoners from H-Block 7 managed to escape. This was a huge surprise because the prison was considered escape-proof. The prisoners used guns that had been smuggled inside. They took control of the H-Block and then used a food lorry to get out of the prison. This escape was carefully planned and involved many people working together.

What Happened After The Escape?

After the escape, a huge search began for the 38 prisoners. Many of them were caught again, but some managed to get away to other countries. The escape was a big news story around the world. It was seen as a major success for the IRA, who used it to show their power.

An official investigation looked into how such a secure prison could be breached. The report found that there were many mistakes made by the prison staff, which allowed the escape to happen. This event led to big changes in how prisons were run and how security was managed, especially in high-security facilities.

Images for kids

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  RUC archive image (via the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland) taken following the November 1974 tunnel escape attempt

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  Map of HM Prison Maze showing the escape route

See also

In Spanish: Escape en la prisión de Maze para niños