The Belfast Telegraph reports that H Block is granted listed status. While Jeffrey Donaldson has been critical, Lawrence McKeown has welcomed the move to protect a number of buildings on the maze site while stressing that this is not about turning it into a shrine. Their demolition would now be a criminal act.“A notorious H-Block within the former Maze Prison has been granted listed building protection – with a Government department citing the hunger strikes and murder of LVF leader Billy Wright as reasons for its historical significance.
H Block Six is now officially categorised as a structure with “special architectural or historic interest” by the DoE’s Environment and Heritage Service.
The prison hospital where IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands died has also been listed, along with an administration block, chapel, perimeter walls and watch towers within the old jail site.”