George Blake, the former British spy who was a double agent working for the Soviet KGB, has spoken about his career with pride and called himself an “exceptionally lucky man”.

May I correct one statement in Richard Fitzpatrick’s article (Features, Feb 16) on the escape of the double-agent George Blake from Wormwood Scrubs in 1966 with the collaboration of Seán Bourke and assistance from Pat Pottle, my wife Anne, and myself.

Sean Bourke broke out ‘traitor’ George Blake from prison in 1966, enabling him to flee to Moscow, says Richard Fitzpatrick

MEMORIES of late Limerick man Seán Bourke were revived this week, as a notorious Cold War spy George Blake received one of Russia’s top honours.