Joe tells us about his family’s involvement in struggle and internment going back decades.
He recounts the events in Ballymurphy on August 09th 1971. Taken to Girdwood Barracks with others and being severely beaten. Wasn’t interned but charged with rioting.
Talks about being interned in 1973 and the beatings he got from the British army and the RUC.
Recalls events in Long Kesh including the burning and the escape in 1974.
Reflects on the impact on families and the community with total British military saturation.
Audio Transcript
00:00:00.0 00:02:11.2 Background of Joe and his family. He and brothers interned. History of family members being imprisoned and interned going back decades. Relatives killed during the conflict.
00:02:11.2 00:04:25.5 Grandfather fought in the Black and Tan War. His great granny had also been imprisoned. Father interned for a period in the 194os.
00:04:25.5 00:07:43.6 Recalling August 09th 1971 in Ballymurphy. British paratroopers smashing into homes arresting all males over 16 years old. Made to lie face down on ground. Being beaten and then loaded into lorry.
00:07:43.6 00:11:34.2 Arriving at Girdwood Barracks. Being made to run the gauntlet of beatings from lorry into the hall. Beatings continued in the hall, remembers the noise and the screams. Made to run around helicopter pad and more beatings.
00:11:34.2 00:13:19.3 Taken out and charged with riotous behaviour, charges later dropped. Experience of that morning prepared him for what was to come as British paratroopers would regularly round people up and give out savage beatings.
00:13:19.3 00:15:39.7 June 1973 taken out of house to be interned. Brought to Vere Foster, beatings started immediately went on for a number of hours. Not being questioned just beaten by British soldiers. Saw two others having their faces pushed into basins of water.
00:15:39.7 00:17:53.6 Brought into interrogation room. Punches and kicks. Taken into small room by ‘regiment champion boxer’ and beaten gain.
00:17:53.6 00:22:45.3 Handed over to RUC at Springfield Road Barracks. Interrogated and beaten by one RUC man. Transferred to Castlereagh on stretcher. CID wouldn’t interrogate him. Special Branch man continued to beat him over three days. Relieved when transferred to Long Kesh. S
00:22:45.3 00:25:06.1 Experience of interrogation prepared him for future encounters. He and his three brothers were all in Long Kesh at Christmas 1973.
00:25:06.1 00:26:42.5 Married in 1972. House was continually raided. Describing Ballymurphy in the 1970s, total British military saturation.
00:26:42.5 00:27:52.8 Impact on families. Father ensured the family attended protests and rallies.
00:27:52.8 00:31:55.7 Dealing with his diabetes and prison food. Cold conditions in winter. Dealing with protests. Men dealing with depression. Overcrowding.
00:31:55.7 00:35:28.9 British army raids. Running the gauntlet. Personal belongings destroyed. Raids every 3 weeks. Lack of medical assistance.
00:35:28.9 00:38:10.7 Burning the camp. Effects of CR Gas. Brother seeing the ruins of burnt camp.
00:38:10.7 00:40:38.1 Men from different backgrounds, many had never been involved in anything but were interned. Can recall good times but also sad times.
00:40:38.1 00:42:58.4 Recounting one particular British army search raid.
00:42:58.4 00:48:56.2 Burning of the camp. Rioting against British army. CR Gas. British army retake the cages.
00:48:56.2 00:51:23.1 Aftermath of the camp being burnt. Tunnel being dug. Faking coma to smuggle wire cutters.
00:51:23.1 00:53:19.2 No visits or parcels. Prison food and harsh conditions.
00:53:19.2 00:55:50.1 Beginning of releases. Role of Commissions. Release day.
Image Back Left to Right: Micky Burns, Joe Valley, Kid Conlon (RIP) Sean Burns.
Front Left to Right: Francis Vallely, Paddy Mulholland (RIP)
Joe, second from left on back row and his brother Francis seated