The Maze Prison (Paperback)

Tom Murtagh

ISBN 10: 1909976504 / ISBN 13: 9781909976504

Published by Waterside Press, Winchester, 2018

Paperback. The Maze Prison shows how an establishment built to hold those involved in terrorism, atrocities, murder and allied crimes became a pawn in the partisan conflict that was Northern Ireland. There followed a breakdown of norms, values and control as the last of these shifted from Governors to Ministers, outside officials and even prisoners. This led to the (often random) killing of prison officers and countless allegations, denials and obfuscations, as Prison Rules came into conflict with claims to be treated as prisoners-of-war or be given Special Category status. A social document par excellence, this stark slant on The Troubles and Peace Process cuts through the propaganda and base politics to reveal the truth about the H-Blocks, hunger-strikes, escapes and power struggles. Based on actual records and personal accounts, it challenges myths and legends to warn how easily a community can descend into what the author calls anomie. An invaluable record of `one of the most dangerous prisons in the world'. The Maze Prison shows how an establishment built to hold those involved in terrorism, atrocities, murder and allied crimes during The Troubles became a pawn in the partisan conflict that was Northern Ireland. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781909976504

Synopsis:

The Maze Prison shows how an establishment built to hold those involved in terrorism, atrocities, murder and allied crimes became a pawn in the partisan conflict that was Northern Ireland. There followed a breakdown of norms, values and control as the last of these shifted from Governors to Ministers, outside officials and even prisoners. This led to the (often random) killing of prison officers and countless allegations, denials and obfuscations, as Prison Rules came into conflict with claims to be treated as prisoners-of-war or be given Special Category status. A social document par excellence, this stark slant on The Troubles and Peace Process cuts through the propaganda and base politics to reveal the truth about the H-Blocks, hunger-strikes, escapes and power struggles. Based on actual records and personal accounts, it challenges myths and legends to warn how easily a community can descend into what the author calls anomie. An invaluable record of ‘One of the most dangerous prisons in the world’.

About the Author: Tom Murtagh OBE ended his long career in the Prison Service as an Area Manager in HM Prison Service having been a Governor in England and Ireland, including at The Maze during The Troubles. He is the author of The Blantyre House Prison Affair (Waterside Press, 2007).

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Maze Prison (Paperback)
Publisher: Waterside Press, Winchester
Publication Date: 2018
Binding: Paperback
Condition: new