Songs used to quell prison rioting

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- British soldiers sang songs to help quell the 1974 prison riots in Northern Ireland's notorious Maze prison, says a new book by a former soldier. Marcus Lapsa, 52, then an 18-year-old member of the Royal Regiment of Wales, wrote of being sent into Belfast's notorious Maze prison after Irish Republican Army and Loyalist inmates had rioted against conditions. “The Maze was the closest I’ve ever come to hell on Earth,” said Lapsa. “We were one of the first ones in there and it was a complete mess. Anything that wasn’t on fire had already been smashed or reduced to ash.” In his book "A Long Long War: Voices From The British Army In Northern Ireland 1969-1998" Lapsa said they were not allowed to bring in firearms so they had to develop other defense techniques to keep the peace, reported... [read full story]