“Get to the Chopper!”: The Incredible Tale of the Mountjoy Prison Helicopter Escape

On Halloween Day 1973, members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) orchestrated a daring helicopter prison break for three of its incarcerated leaders

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Guest Post by Kirsten Ford

(Image generated via Midjourney)

Background

On October 31st, 1973, Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, Ireland, became the scene of one of the most daring prison escapes in history. This prison was home to numerous members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), including several high-ranking officials.

The intense political pressure created tension in the prison population, with other prisoners fearing a potential attack from the…