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:
“Thus I alone, where all my freedom grew,
In prison pine with bondage and restraint;
And with remembrance of the greater grief
To banish the less, I find my chief relief.”
—Henry Howard, Earl Of Surrey (1517?–1547)
“Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists?
And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists?
And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air?
Oh they’re taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.”
—A.E. (Alfred Edward)