7. The Maze Prison Break (1983)
In what remains the largest prison escape in UK history, 38 members of the IRA broke out of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland in 1983. The escape was executed with military precision—prisoners used smuggled guns, overpowered guards, and hijacked a food delivery lorry to make their getaway. The breakout sent shockwaves through the British government and led to sweeping changes in prison security and policy. The political and security fallout was enormous and its legacy still resonates. Read more at BBC.
