Maze officer - BBC programme was 'IRA propaganda'
A FORMER Maze Prison officer has broken his silence on the Maze Prison escape to denounce what he called an "IRA propaganda" film shown by the BBC.
Committed to preventing the IRA prisoners' escape 25 years ago today, Billy McKane has told how he rammed his car into the food lorry filled with armed escapees and helped recapture some of the prisoners.
Mr McKane, who spent a lifetime in the security forces, said the programme – which the BBC is to screen again tonight – contained "blatant lies" about prison officers.
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During the documentary, a remorseless Gerry Kelly – now Sinn Fein's policing and justice spokesman – recalled how during the escape he shot a prison officer in the head at point-blank range.
Meanwhile, the DUP was last night caught in a row over plans to collect a peace award in New York alongside Mr Kelly.
Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP was due to accept a trophy in the Big Apple – but after the Maze controversy surfaced he announced he would not be taking part in the handover ceremony.
Jim Allister, leader of the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice, attacked the DUP yesterday after details emerged of the plan for Mr Donaldson and fellow Junior Minister Mr Kelly to speak at a Co-operation Ireland dinner at New York's Roosevelt Hotel.
A statement from the Northern Ireland Assembly's Office of First and Deputy First Minister said the pair were to collect a Peace Dove Award in recognition of the peace process.
In response to the statement, Mr Allister hit out at the DUP, claiming it was criticising Mr Kelly for the portrayal of his paramilitary past on Tuesday and sharing a gong with him on Wednesday.
In the documentary screened by the BBC on Monday evening, Mr Kelly recalled how he used a gun smuggled into the top security jail as part of an escape plan involving 38 IRA prisoners.
A prison officer who was stabbed during the escape later died, while others were injured.
The Ulster Unionist Party's Tom Elliot last night said: "It strikes me as absurd that they are prepared to address a New York audience about 'the progress which has been made economically and socially in Northern Ireland', yet the Executive has been in suspended animation since June and hasn't been able to take one single decision on economic matters."
A spokesman for the DUP said Mr Donaldson, who was scheduled to take part in a number of engagements with Mr Kelly in New York, would not be collecting the award.
The DUP said: "Mr Donaldson holds to the view that any peace award for Northern Ireland should be given to those who stood against terrorism including prison officers, not those who shot prison officers as part of their Province-wide campaign of terror."
A Sinn Fein spokesman said: "It is time the leadership of political unionism stood up to mavericks like Jim Allister."
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
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