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Down Gael put 'behind bars' at Crumlin Road Gaol

Mickey Madine under lock and key in Crumlin Road Gaol on Friday night
Mickey Madine under lock and key in Crumlin Road Gaol on Friday night Mickey Madine under lock and key in Crumlin Road Gaol on Friday night

FORMER Down player Mickey Madine was thrown in jail on Friday night for his 'crimes against football'.

The Loughinisland man was put behind bars at Crumlin Road Gaol after being found guilty last week in an amusing sketch aimed at raising money for Down GAA.

Wearing his black and white prison uniform, inmate 94-91-68-61-60 was last night assigned to the 'B' Wing of the former prison in north Belfast.

He was accompanied by more than 30 other 'inmates', including several Down GAA officials and politicians Chris Hazzard of Sinn Féin and the SDLP's Sean Rogers, who all volunteered to stay in the historic building overnight.

It's all part of of the Down GAA Jailbreak fundraiser, which last week saw Mr Madine convicted by his Armagh and Crossmaglen rivals of crimes against football.

As principal of St Patrick's Primary School in Crossmaglen, the former player - who has more than four decades of involvement with Down GAA - has to face the wrath of his rival county on a regular basis.

And it was that battle with his Armagh and Crossmaglen opponents that saw the creation of a hilarious 10-minute sketch showing his crimes, trial and sentencing.

The recording saw Mr Madine inflict his love of Down GAA on his school from the uniform they have to wear, the flags flying outside and the official school song before his 'arrest' in front of his screaming school pupils.

The head teacher last week also toured his home county and took a penalty at each club with sponsors paying to guess the total distance he had travelled.

And last night he entered Crumlin Road Gaol to pay for his crimes.

After being locked up overnight, he is today expected to take part in normal daily prisoner duties, which include arts and crafts and time in the exercise yard.

The Down man will also enjoy a 'time for personal reflection' before it is believed that an escape plan out of the jail will be launched.