In Prison
Spence appealed against his conviction and was the subject of a release petition organised by the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee although nothing came of either initiative. From prison he was often at odds with the leadership of the UVF on the outside as was particularly the case with the 1971 McGurk's Bar bombing, Spence arguing that UVF members were soldiers and soldiers should not kill civilians. This was despite the fact that control of the UVF lay, nominally at least, with Spence's closest ally Samuel "Bo" McClelland. Spence respected Irish republicans whom he felt also lived as soldiers and to this end he wrote a sympathetic letter to the widow of Official IRA leader Joe McCann after he was killed in 1972.
Read more about this topic: Gusty Spence
Famous quotes containing the word prison:
“He that has his chains knocked off, and the prison doors set open to him, is perfectly at liberty, because he may either go or stay, as he best likes; though his preference be determined to stay, by the darkness of the night, or illness of the weather, or want of other lodging. He ceases not to be free, though the desire of some convenience to be had there absolutely determines his preference, and makes him stay in his prison.”
—John Locke (1632–1704)
“But neither milk-white rose nor red
May bloom in prison air;
The shard, the pebble, and the flint,
Are what they give us there:
For flowers have been known to heal
A common man’s despair.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)