Notorious lag Charles Bronson is “living on his nerves” following a bust-up with a murderer in his Category A jail, his former wife has revealed.
Bronson, 71, has spent more than 50 years in jail. He has a brutal history of violence and hostage-taking and is currently incarcerated at Category A HMP Woodhill, in Milton Keynes.
The long time lag lost a parole bid in March 2023 and his next opportunity to make a case for his release will come early next year. However, he now reportedly fears he could have scuppered his chances after coming to blows in the clink with Robert Donaldson, 48.
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Donaldson was jailed in 2005 for murdering Paul Bourke, gagging a 100-year-old deaf woman and beating up a 76-year-old man while they slept.
(Image: This is Local London)
And Bronson’s ex-wife, Irene Dunroe, told The Mirror she was “gutted” to hear about his latest violent incident. Irene, who shares a son with the long-serving prisoner, says Bronson is “living on nerves, waiting for the next thing to happen.” She added that he has always kept “well away” from Donaldson.
Following the bust-up, a prison source revealed Bronson had his privileges removed, and the authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
Irene, 71, and Bronson divorced in 1976 but stayed in touch – and met up for the first time in 50 years last year. But she says they haven’t been speaking as regularly in recent months due to a falling out between them. Irene, an Ann Summers worker from Brimstage, Wirral, Merseyside, said: “I’m gutted as I’d love to see him out.
“As far as we’re concerned, we’re still living in that time he went away.
(Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
“I just want peace and mind for our son – his mum will be gutted about this too. I think it was in self-defence. He suffers with PTSD and he’s never known over the years who’s going to come and jump on him.
“When I went to visit him I reached out to touch him and you would have thought I’d burnt him the way he reacted – it was very upsetting.
“He’s always kept well away from this man. Because he’s so much like he is, when this bloke bumped into him he’s had to protect himself. He’s living on his nerves anyway, just waiting for the next thing that’s going to happen to him.”
Prior to the incident, mum-of-three Irene felt confident Bronson would finally secure his release at his next parole hearing which is due in March 2025.
Irene added: “I feel sorry for him, I’m sure we’ll be talking again soon. They’re doing an inquiry into what happened, and a lot of people who know Mick say he shouldn’t get penalised for this as it wasn’t his fault.”
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