Crumlin Road (HM Prison)
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HMP Belfast, also known as Crumlin Road Gaol is a former prison situated in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the only Victorian era prison remaining in Northern Ireland and has been derelict since 1996.
The Environment and Heritage Service have given it a grade A listed building status because of its architectural and historical significance. The Crumlin Road Courthouse, also derelict, stands opposite the Gaol. A tunnel under the main road connects the two buildings.
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[edit] History
Designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, the Gaol was built between 1843 and 1845. Partly based on HM Prison Pentonville, it was one of the most advanced prisons of its day. Comprising four wings which are up to four stories in height, the gaol had 640 cells. The first inmates, who were forced to walk from Carrickfergus Prison in chains, arrived in 1846. Seventeen prisoners were executed there, the last being hanged in 1961. Two further bodies were removed from the burial site in Crumlin Road Gaol and re-buried in Miltown Cemetery - the remaining 15 burial sites are not available to public.
For the last thirty years of its working life until it closed on 31 March 1996, Crumlin Road prison served as a remand centre for suspected terrorist and paramilitary prisoners awaiting trial.
During The Troubles several prison officers from HMP Belfast were killed by prisoners from both the republican and loyalist sides.[citation needed]
[edit] Past inmates
The following individuals have been imprisoned at the prison for offences relating to the Troubles:
- Gerry Adams Sr., IRA member
- Séanna Breathnach, IRA leader
- Jimmy Brogan, IRA member
- Eamon Collins, IRA member and informer
- Éamon de Valera, republican politician
- Paddy Devlin, nationalist politician
- Joe Doherty, IRA member
- Angelo Fusco, IRA member
- John Graham, IRA member
- Paul Magee, IRA member
- Hugh McAteer, IRA member
- Jackie McMullan, IRA member
- Martin Meehan, IRA member
- Frank Morris, IRA member
- Arthur Kearney, IRA member
- Kieran Nugent, IRA member
- Sean O'Callaghan, IRA member and informer
- Jimmy Steele, IRA member
- Tom Williams, IRA member executed in 1942 for murder
- Paddy Tunney, IRA member, also a singer
- Gusty Spence, UVF member, later a politician
- Michael Stone, UDA member known for attacks on a funeral and the Stormont parliament
- Billy Wright, leader of the breakaway LVF
- Lenny Murphy, leader of the Shankill Butchers
- David Ervine, Loyalist politician
- Ian Paisley, Previous DUP leader and First Minister in the NI Assembly
[edit] Future plans
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This article or section contains information about a planned museum. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the construction and/or completion of the museum approaches. |
There are plans to develop the prison as a museum and film set. It opens to the public occasionally, the last time being September 2005. It is used for cultural events from time to time, including the screening of Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption in 2001.
The North Belfast Community Action Unit has been charged with developing the site. £3.8m has been allocated from the sale of a former British Army base on the Malone Road.
