In one of the most daring jailbreaks in history, three IRA prisoners escaped from Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison in broad daylight—by helicopter. On October 31, 1973, a hijacked Alouette II landed in the exercise yard, allowing Séamus Twomey, J.B. O’Hagan, and Kevin Mallon to board and make their dramatic getaway.
This audacious escape, orchestrated by the IRA, left prison guards and authorities stunned. The helicopter pilot was forced at gunpoint to fly the escapees to a safe house, sparking one of the largest manhunts in Irish history. The event embarrassed the Irish government and led to major security overhauls in prisons across the country.
In this episode, we dive into the planning, execution, and aftermath of the escape, exploring how it influenced future jailbreaks and the Troubles in Ireland. How did the IRA pull it off? What happened to the escapees? And how did this bold move change history?
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