EOKA and IRA prisoners reunited after meeting behind bars in 1950s

EOKA and IRA prisoners who first met behind bars over 50 years ago were yesterday reunited in an emotional gathering between old comrades.

“With joy and emotion we are here now with our dear Irish brothers-in-arms, with whom we experienced much together in English prisons, during the difficult times of the struggle for freedom. A common struggle against the same enemy, the English colonialist, with the same purpose, the freedom of our country,” EOKA fighter Vias Livadas said.

The men, who were incarcerated together at Wakefield prison in England from 1956 to 1959, met up again to launch Livadas’ book Cypriot and Irish political prisoners in English prisons.

The book, which Livadas hopes will also be translated into English, has been dedicated to Nicholas Ioannou, an EOKA fighter the prisoners believe was killed by British Special Branch after his part in the their plans of a joint escape became known to the British authorities.

On February 12, 1959, the prisoners planned a second escape with an Irish revolutionary group called Saor Uladh. EOKA fighters George Skotinos and Nicos Sampson, and IRA men Joe Doyle and Seamus Murphy were selected to make this break.

Saor Uladh provided men, cars, and safe houses in Manchester for the break. However, only Murphy was successful in scaling the wall and getting back to Ireland. The remainder of EOKA prisoners were released later that year, Livadas said.