Republicans and Loyalists unite to highlight the prison food row at The Maze.
In an ongoing dispute at the Maze Prison (originally called Long Kesh) near Belfast detainees are refusing meals. Special category and remand prisoners are throwing food over compound fences where it is left to rot.
Visiting is suspended for the second successive day at the Maze Prison due to the behaviour of those visiting detainees. Several women storm compounds on the prison perimeter before they are escorted away by police. Some women climb onto the roofs huts to wave at detainees.
Two female visitors say they were met at the prison gates by six soldiers, each with a guard dog. Various officials dealt with the women. Eventually a more senior official brought their food parcels into the prison.
Both women stood on top of the roof but did not break into the training hut. They report no animosity or threats made among the visitors,
Both the Republican prisoner visitors and Loyalists worked very much together.
They have not been told when visiting will resume.
Later that day traffic is brought to a standstill in Belfast city when men, women and children form a series of barricades to highlight the prison food row at The Maze. Taxis are used as barriers in the Lower Falls and on the Malone Road, Sandy Row and Shankill Road districts. The roadblocks start to go up at about 3 pm and are removed by 7 pm.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 13 September 1974. The reporter is Forbes McFall.
