Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘OAPrisoners’ go on the run to Northern Ireland
A GROUP of hardy OAPs from Dundee and Fife sprang themselves from Perth Prison before going on the run in Northern Ireland at the weekend.
The trio, who have a combined age of 223, escaped shortly after 8am on Saturday, before hitching a ride to Belfast in time to celebrate Ireland’s victory in the Six Nations Championship and St Patrick’s Day.
Noeline Raitt, 79, and Isa Carnochan, 62, of Eden Court, Cupar, and Cath Webster, 82, from Dundee, returned on Sunday evening. The three team members were, of course, taking part in a charity event, which saw them raise money for the Sistema project in Dundee.
The “jail break”, which is now in its second year, aims to raise thousands of pounds for good causes and was organised by Dundee community charity the Grey Lodge Settlement.
Last year’s event, in which the “OAPrisoners” also took part, generated more than £4,000 for the Broughty Ferry Lifeboat.
This year’s “escape” total is still to be tallied and Noeline said she was delighted funds were being raised for such a worthwhile cause.
The Green Shirt Gang were transported from Perth to Belfast by volunteers, under strict instruction they were not to spend a single penny of their own until they reached their destination.
Noeline said: “We are raising funds this year for Sistema, which is such a worthwhile cause and the whole weekend was a great laugh, from beginning to end.”