Q309: What's Barlinnie Prison Like? Ian ‘Blink’ MacDonald

Blink's stories of robberies, gangland warfare, prisons, stabbings and bombs.

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[gordonlove]

Ian is a really engaging story teller. He has a gift.

[garymccallum]

"Bar-L is a hellhole" wow, I was a kid on remand in the late 90s, when I first experienced it, HMP Polmont Y.O.I.was much worse than Bar.

[caragray]

Heard this guy before on YouTube, defo the real deal, a true Glasgow hard man, great at telling stories, the bank robbery story is good.

[jeanthornton]

Fascinating interview, thanks Shaun ❤

[alanhenderson]

Did you know that hundreds of inmates took the Scottish government to the European court over “sloping out”? The practice was deemed a breach of their human rights and compensation was paid. I’m unsure of the year, maybe late 90s or early 2000s. Cash compensation of various amounts was paid into accounts of serving prisoners to enjoy on release. Typical award was £500-£700 per month they had to endure it.
The same cells are still in use to this day, all with a very unprivate toilet.

[alanmctavish]

Tavy@ i like blinks storys hes still got a great sense of humour considering the amount of jail time hes done. Hes proper old school!!!!

[BeneathTheGold]

“It’s a hell hole of a prison”
That is a severe understatement. Its absolutely disgusting. It was so bad back in the day that cons sued them for breaching their human rights and won. Every con that done time there could claim against them and get a few geez.

[gavmackenzie]

Love the look on Sean’s face when he’s told about a mars bar on his face

[Craig.Fawley]

why can't people hear him? i'm yorkshire and i can understand everything he says.

[tanilorn]

Met a few Scottish people in winson green. And the stories of that place where crazy. Pp9 battery in socks. Sugar water. Morning body bags and breakfast on hold lol

[pureloyalist]

One of the most genuine guys lve ever listened to, your a Big Gentleman lan l wish you all the best in your task to enlighten the younger generation, take care and as always all the best 👍

[Roberto]

Just wanted to ask if you will be doing a cast about Assange's prison experience. How would they treat him. Thanks

[gordonwilson]

scheme songs is the best thing about the it was a soundtrack to us in/out jail...time goe's a bye

[davidmcclymont]

Great guy met him few months back on the train n got into a conversation with him about the rangers brilliant genuine guy 💯

[jmcck]

One of the things that makes barlinnie a lot worse than other jail's in UK is that's it's 23 hour lockup. It's monotonous being locked up in a cell 23 hours a day and some days it's 24 hours if the guards can't be bothered giving you the hour exercise that you are entitled to. Also the fact it's an old Victorian jail that used to do executions etc gives it a creepy vibe. Overcrowding is rampant and you can end up sharing a cell with a psycho.

[johnbutler]

hi shaun i done 112 days corrective training in a miliatry jail for assult 14 days in a civillian jail for 900 pounds motoring offences in the seventys and never wanted to go back which i havent how do these blokes like blink get through big sentences as i would shudder at 16 to 20 years

[DavidBrown-jdst]

Wait a fookin minute, I says do ya think I’m in here for Recreational purposes 🤣🤣🤣

[allanwalsh]

Can I swear, swearing is ingrained in our language, we need to swear, 🤣🤣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[Bad_Gnasher]

Love his explanation of a Piss Pot


"It's a pot and you piss in it"


😂😂😂

[haroldmcfarlane]

Scheme, great band in early 89's