First Prisoners Escaped from Spike Island on April 29th, 100 years ago,
writes Tom O’Neill
During the Irish War of Independence, Spike Island in County Cork was the largest British military-run prison for republican prisoners and internees in the Martial Law area. During 1921, almost 1,200 republican activists were imprisoned on Spike Island. Most of the men were from the Martial Law area, Munster and counties Kilkenny and Wexford.
Prisoners were those imprisoned by Military Courts for their participation in republican attacks on Crown Forces. Approximately three hundred prisoners were held on Spike Island.
Internees were those imprisoned without trial for their suspected involvement in republican activities.