REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday December 9, 1987

A MAN who was among a dozen prisoners who stayed behind to help police during a mass escape from the Southport Watchhouse feared he was on the hit list of those who escaped and were later recaptured.

The man, known only as Mr X, was out on bail and went to great lengths to supply a member of his family with several names as a guarantee in case something should happen to him.

Six men escaped from the Southport Watchhouse on October 18, 1987 while police were moving prisoners from one cell to another. Four prisoners were recaptured.

Two police were beaten and locked in the cells during the escape.

Mr X ran the Bulletin in a desperate bid to talk about his fear.

“One chap, Don McFadden, who was involved, has been put in hospital with serious injures because he was one of the chaps who helped the police out of the cells,” he said.

On October 28, McFadden was struck by a car as he ran across the Southeast Freeway in Brisbane. He was seriously injured.

Mr X believed the accident was deliberate.

Gold Coast police Acting Superintendent, Inspector Peter Bonner confirmed McFadden had been in the Southport Watchhouse during the breakout.

Of the accident he said: “Someone saw him running down the embankment and over the road. He was bowled over ... he may have been running away from hoods or he may have been running across the highway.”

Mr X said he feared the same thing would happen to him.