Maze Prison escape celebrating the escape called "The Helicopter Song", which topped the Irish popular music charts. 19 IRA members escaped from Portlaoise Jail on 18 August 1974 after overpowering guards and using gelignite to blast through gates, and 33 prisoners attempted to escape from Long Kesh on 6 November 1974 after digging a tunnel. IRA member Hugh Coney was shot dead by a sentry, 29 other prisoners were captured within a few yards of the prison, and the remaining three were back in custody within 24 hours. In March 1975, ten prisoners escaped from the courthouse in Newry while on trial for
Irish Prison Service Minister, as an advisory board to the Irish Prison Service. In 2002, the first Inspector of Prisons in the post-independence era, retired High Court Judge Dermot Kileen was also appointed by the Minister. According to the Irish Prison Service website, their official mission is "providing safe and secure custody, dignity of care and rehabilitation to prisoners for safer communities." In line with this goal, they offer a great many services to prisoners. Drug treatment services involve systematic detoxification and general psychological services to help with rehabilitation. Prisons within the system offers basic education classes, as well as specialized classes in