Séan Bourke

Sean Aloyisious Bourke (1934–1982) was a petty criminal from Limerick who became internationally famous when he arranged the prison escape of the British spy George Blake in October 1966, helped by Michael Randle and Pat Pottle. Blake had been convicted in 1961 of spying for the Soviet Union. Their motives for helping Blake to escape were their belief that his 42-year sentence was "inhuman" and a personal liking of Blake.

He was born in Limerick into a large family. Actor Richard Harris was his second cousin and poet Desmond O'Grady was his first cousin. As a boy of 12, Bourke was sentenced to three years in Daingean reformatory in October 1947 for stealing bananas from a lorry. Subsequently, he trained as a bricklayer, but was frequently in trouble with the law, in part due to his alcoholism. Having moved to Britain, in 1961 he was convicted of sending an explosive device through the post to a Detective Constable Michael Sheldon, against whom he bore a grudge. The bomb exploded, but caused no injury. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. While in Wormwood Scrubs prison in London, he founded and edited the prison magazine, New Horizon. In this role he met George Blake, who wrote contributions for the magazine. Bourke also met anti-nuclear campaigners Randle and Pottle in the prison.

After his release, Bourke set about organising Blake's escape. The escape was masterminded by Bourke, who originally approached Michael Randle only for financial help. Randle, however, became more involved and suggested they bring Pottle in on the plan as well, as he had suggested springing Blake to Randle in 1962 when they were both still in prison.

Bourke had smuggled a walkie-talkie to Blake to communicate with him whilst in jail. It was decided that Blake would break a window at the end of the corridor where his cell was located. Then between 6 and 7 pm, whilst most of the other inmates and guards were at the weekly film showing, Blake could climb through the window, slide down a porch and get to the perimeter wall, where Bourke would throw a rope ladder made of knitting needles over the wall so that Blake could climb over and they would then drive off to the safe house. Blake fell from the wall during his escape and broke his wrist.

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