Charles Bronson’s ex-wife 'banned' from seeing him in notorious prison

The ex wife of notorious lag Charles Bronson has been barred from seeing him in prison after being labelled a 'risk to the security and safety' of the prison.

Irene Dunroe, 73, divorced Bronson back in 1975, but has still kept in touch with him over the decades as part of a network of people supporting him, but said she's been left flummoxed that she is deemed a security risk.

She found out about this risk when she received a letter in the post, which informed her that she 'poses a risk to the security and safety' of HMP Wakefield where Bronson is held.

“What threat could I pose?" Irene, who works in an Ann Summers ship, told The Sun, "that I’m going to batter them with a sex toy from work?

"It’s completely stupid. I am a pensioner who goes to visit him using my bus pass.”

Bronson, whose real name is Michael Peterson, and Irene got married back in 1971 before divorcing in 1975, one year after Bronson was sent to prison for armed robbery.

Irene Dunroe shared that she had been barred from visiting Bronson in prison (HGL/GC Images)

He would go on to be slapped with more prison terms for crimes including GBH, hostage-taking, violence, and false imprisonment, but despite their divorce the pair kept in touch.

"I am part of his support network, which he really needs right now as he’s going for parole," said Irene.

“He is hopeful of getting it. He’s old now. He just wants a bit of peace. Although I’m now off his visitor and call list I don’t know if he’s aware."

Irene also expressed worry that her being barred from seeing Bronson may give him the wrong impression.

“He may just think I’m not turning up," she said. "I am going to write to him, that’s all I can now do. But I know that sometimes in the past decades post has gone missing.”

She went on to say that Bronson has not called her as often since he was moved to HMP Wakefield, and on their calls he has seemed more morose.

“He didn’t seem as happy," she said.

Bronson has become known as one of the most notorious prisoners in the UK (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

But despite the ban, Irene said that she is not yet giving up, saying that she has plans to appeal the ban on her visiting the prison.

"I am going to write back and ask for the ban to be lifted," she said. "Since he’s been moved back there I haven’t been to see him."

Irene even suggested that Bronson is not the same person he was, saying: “But I was planning to. Now I can’t. Even though we divorced we have remained close.

“People have described him in the past as 'mad, bad and dangerous' – but that isn’t Mick now.”

The pair previously reconnected, with Irene saying back in 2023: "He was full of compliments. He's always saying that he wants to try the relationship, and that he's always loved me - that I'm his first love.

"We don't know what's in the future but he says he wants to get a ring for me for Christmas so he is thinking things like that. But I'm not sure on all of that yet."