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Jimmy Drumm
JIMMY DRUMM’S INTERNMENT DIARY
One of the hundreds of men and boys arrested by the British Army during the Internment swoop on the morning of 9 August 1971 was veteran Belfast Republican Jimmy Drumm. He was brought to Crumlin Road where he had been imprisoned as a teenager 33 years previously. Having served that first sentence in 1938, he was immediately interned and remained in the ‘Crum’ and Derry Jail until the end of World War Two.
After his first release in 1945, Jimmy married Máire McAteer, a Republican from South Armagh. They had five children to whom they were devoted, but Jimmy was taken from them and interned again from 1956 to 1960. So, he was well into middle age when the British crown forces descended once more on the family home that August 50 years ago, arresting Jimmy and his son Seán. Máire was in Armagh Prison, serving a six-month sentence for encouraging people to join the IRA at a meeting in Turf Lodge a month before Internment.
Máire Drumm herself highlighted the years Jimmy had spent under British lock and key. Speaking in 1972, she said:
“At the present time, I’m a married woman with a husband in Long Kesh who has been interned for 13 years altogether in three different phases of internment without trial. He went back in 1956 and was in until 1960. Now he’s back since August 9 1971. I’ve had three periods of internment in my life in that I’ve suffered internment as a young girl, having a fiancé in prison, then as a young wife with a husband in prison and five children to rear on my own. And now as a middle-aged woman, my husband who’s also middle aged is back in prison again.”
Jimmy kept a diary vividly describing his arrest, interrogation, weeks in the ‘Crum’ and then the move to the newly opened Long Kesh Internment Camp. The diary is written in tiny, but fluent, and legible handwriting and records his own experiences and that of his family, the life of the prisoners and the news they were receiving from outside as the conflict escalated.
Armoured cars and tanks and guns | Came to take away our sons But every man will stand behinds | The Men Behind the Wire
It runs from 9 August 1971 to 6 June 1972 when Jimmy was released. He and Máire continued their tireless work in the Republican Movement. Máire became Vice-President of Sinn Féin and was assassinated in her hospital bed by pro-British forces in 1976. Jimmy survived her by 25 years and died in 2001 after a long illness.
Jimmy Drumm’s Internment Diary is a unique document and an important source for the history of the republican struggle in that era. The diary is in the possession of Jimmy and Máire’s son Séamus Ó Droma who has made it available now for publication for the first time. We carry here extracts from the diary covering the Internment arrest, Girdwood British Army barracks, Crumlin Road Prison and the first days in Long Kesh.
MONDAY 9TH AUGUST 1971
Soldiers of the British Army came to my home at 5am. Heard the screech of brakes, looked out and saw soldiers with blackened faces scrambling from an armoured vehicle (a ‘Pig’). Beckoned to us to come down – opened the door and they burst in. “Hurry, you’re coming with us.” Insisted on getting dressed. Ordered Máire and Seán downstairs. Kept insisting I “hurry!” whilst dressing - took my time.
Máire came running upstairs “Daddy, they’re taking Seán!” I couldn’t believe it. “They are, have ordered him out in his pyjamas.” Máire grabbed a pullover for him – I handed him my anorak.
Bundled into ‘Pig’ and driven around to checkpoint at corner of Shaw’s Rd – Stewartstown Rd. Whole convoy of army vehicles assembled. Officer took over. Took our names, ordered that we be stripped of all possessions inc. ties, bootlaces, hands tied behind backs and put into army personnel carrier (canvas covered). Seán Boyle and Grey there already. 4 soldiers in with us, issuing verbal threats and obscenities what they’d do to us! Up Kennedy Way and and Monagh Rd.
In Turf Lodge ambushed by friends! Shower of bricks and bottles rained in on us – threw ourselves to the ground. Soldiers panicked – threw a gas canister which girl smothered with bin lid. Further ambushes going through Ballymurphy. Soldiers went wild – “Paddy b[astard]s, lousy Irish b[astard]s, another stone and we will shoot you.”
Down Shankill Rd, soldiers singing ‘The Sash’ etc. “Start praying to your B. Virgin now. We’ll throw you out to the Protestants” etc etc. Eventually made our way by side streets to Girdwood Park Army Barracks. Kept waiting half hour or longer whilst soldiers excelled themselves with threats of what they’d do to us. Alsatians barking and helicopter propellers churning away. (We were sure we’d be transported to England). Saw men being pushed and prodded along.
Eventually pushed out of lorry and roughly grabbed and shoved into ‘Reception’ (foyer of barrack gymnasium). Saw lot of old familiar faces straight away Larry and Joe McGurk, Gerry Maguire, Brendan etc. Name, address noted, instamatic cameras clicking away taking our photographs. Heard “Drumm” being called. Into gymnasium where 100 or more were seated on floor without back support. Wondered where Seán was. Hadn’t long to wait. 3 men, Seán Murphy, Seán and another came in. Pushed into room, gasping, Seán holding his side, obviously got beating. (Learned afterwards they had to run gauntlet of military policemen, and kicked and batoned the whole time. Our shoes had been removed. Seán had no stockings so suffered more.)
At intervals groups of 5 or 6 men were removed and received the ‘treatment’. Then interrogation by Special Branch and CID commenced. I was called out by MPs but mercifully at the same time
• Seán, Margaret, Máire, Máire óg, Catherine and SeamusMáire Drumm and family
detectives came looking me for interrogation. More form filling in. Name, occupation, dependents, etc. When did I join the IRA etc. Refused to answer. “This will probably mean internment.”
Back to another room upper floor. MPs pacing up and down, barking threats. “Open your mouth.” Then batches of 6 called out (amongst them Seán), learned afterwards they had to run gauntlet again in bare feet over broken glass to prison. Eventually about 80 left. Taken back to gymnasium in same position (around 1pm). Some time later got small amount of tea. Kept sitting floor until around 9pm when it was announced: “You’re to be our guests for the night.” Were issued with beds, eventually lay down to rest! Every ½ hour CID came around beds pulling back bedclothes looking for particular men to interrogate.
TUESDAY 10TH AUGUST
Then at 2am, “Rise and shine” and ordered out of bed for nametaking exercise. Wakened again at 7am (?), back to sitting on floor. Out to exercise on football pitch for ½ hour walking around – no talking! Plate of watery stew for dinner about 9pm. Harry Taylor and officials entered room. 12 names called out, took property and left, followed by another 11. H. Taylor (about midnight) came and told me Seán had been released from Crumlin Jail with a batch of other prisoners in the midst of gunfire but they were alright.
All day rumours whispered around that 24 people (including a priest) had died on Monday night in gun battles. Later learned that 15 people had in fact died. Kept sitting around until 3am when we were called out in batches of 6 – shown detention order, photographed. Line of RUC men on either side of us preceded by armed MP, another bringing up rear. Order given “Move! At the double!” Prodded by RUC across Girdwood, through hole in wall, into prison garden thence to ‘B’ Wing and Reception. After Reception moved to Cell 15 C3 in company of Liam Sheppard.
Margaret, Seamus, Máire, Máire óg, Seán, Jimmy and Catherine
• British Prime Minister Edward
Heath • • Taoiseach Jack Lynch
THURSDAY 12TH AUGUST
Meetings today between different groups to settle question of O/C and staff. I acted as “go between”. Eventually J. O’Rawe O/C, Billy O’Neill on Staff with him, Art McMillen Adj and Michael Farrell. Myself in charge of parcels and letters. Got parcel from home. Laundry, sweets, shaving gear etc.
FRIDAY 13TH AUGUST
Today I should have been commencing my holiday…Saw press conference on TV Joe Cahill, P. Kennedy, and John Kelly. Joe stated that IRA had 30 members detained and 2 dead and 8 wounded.
FRIDAY 20TH AUGUST
Surprise visit this am from Máire, accompanied by Miss Totten, wardress. Lasted three quarters of an hour. Miss Kennedy came in and we were able to straighten out most of our problems. [Máire] was looking well. Papers full of protests and stories of brutality now fully reported in press. A beautiful day today. Sunning ourselves all day. Peter Bunting freed this afternoon. Smyth (Dublin) taken to Prison Hospital. Heard explosions.
THURSDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER
Parade today in memory of T. Williams. Joe Cahill detained on arrival at Kennedy Airport, declared intent was money for arms. Immigration application for return to Ireland adjourned for week. Lynch to visit Heath next week. Midday explosions in centre of city caused panic...
SUNDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
Rumours going around after Mass this am of a shift to Long Kesh were confirmed! 88 of us were going by helicopter in batches of 6. At 2pm I was in the fourth batch in company of B. McGrath, P. Smith, D. Hannaway, Jim May, C. Notarantonio. We were escorted to playing field of prison by warders and escorted to waiting helicopter. Escort of 6 warders accompanied us in our short 10 min journey over Belfast. All landmarks easily visible. I even got a glimpse of our house!
On arrival at Long Kesh we were herded into an army tent and left in groups for doctor, photographing etc and finally to Hut 16. Bunk beds (20) – 40 in our hut. Next hut 20 and rear of this hut used as dining room. Were surprised (disagreeably) to find that we were in a compound of 60 men. 2 huts and a further one containing toilets, wash hand basins and showers. Completely wired off from other compounds. Nearest compound to us consisting of 3 huts – the Maidstone men and remainder of our 88. Hut is a new corrugated iron Nissen type, electric heater and locker per man. We got a dinner at tea time, quite satisfactory. Personal property sent on by lorry delivered to us tonight. We were able to carry on sing song across the wires to Maidstone compound and shouted greetings. Recognised J. McMahon, J. Davey, J. McKenna, J. Savage, P. O’Hagan. Camp surrounded by 10ft corrugated paling. Army sentry box at each corner mounted on stilts. Barbed wire abounding.
MONDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
The morning after the night before and Long Kesh doesn’t look any better! I awake at 6am (didn’t go to sleep until 1am). At 6am Johnny Collins roused the occupants of Hut 6 with a spirited rendition of ‘The Old Bog Road’ on the accordion. Door open at 7.30am, out for wash, and many had showers. Breakfast at 8.45am – weetabix, sausage, bacon and beans, tea, bread, marg. No papers or letters. Visits commenced at 12 noon. Jim O’Kane had visit, reported that wife had to practically undress to satisfy women police searches. (Later denied by Governor). Further visits followed – K. O’Rawe etc but they stated that only their handbags and shoes were searched. P.O. told me that Máire had phoned enquiring if visit tomorrow stood – was told it did. Also informed from Miss Kennedy (Welfare, Crumlin Rd) “that property stolen during raid on our house was not at Hastings St Barracks, - letter following”.
Asked to conduct election of O/C Compund. John O’Rawe - 45 votes D. O’Hagan – 0. J. O’Rawe now O/C. Staff O/C J. O’Rawe, Billy O’Neill, J. Maguire, O. Kelly, P. Hartley, D. O’Hagan. Later interview with rep of Ministry of Home Affairs elicited little. Points raised – confinement, recreation etc. F. McGarry O/C of large compound. B. McKenna also took part in talks. Are entitled to 4 letters per week – got one tonight. Will write to Máire after visit tomorrow. Wonder how girls will travel. No public transport. Prison mini-bus picks up visitors at car park. Parcels left in today not given out – obviously understaffed. Shudder to think what delay will be with outgoing and incoming letters. Scene as I write – 11pm. Some watching tv, playing cards, reading, writing and decorating hankies. Dinner – soup, pie, potatoes, cabbage, sweet (sponge and custard). Tea – sausage rolls, potatoes, bread, tea, marg. V. poor, below Crumlin Rd. standard. ■
