Real IRA Prisoner's Resume 'Dirty' Protest

Inmates at Northern Ireland's highest security prison are reportedly taking part in a new so-called dirty protest.

Around 15 republican inmates at Maghaberry in Co Antrim have wrecked their cells and hurled defecation onto the prison's landings.

The protest comes the day after a judge ruled that full body searches of prisoners at Maghaberry was lawful.

A spokesman for the inmates in question - the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, considered to be the political wing of the Real IRA - Gary Donnelly, said the action was being taken after an alleged deal was reneged on by the prison administration.

Mr Donnelly commented: "It's sad that coming on the 30th anniversary of the hunger strikers, here we have political prisoners still being denied their rights as political prisoners."

Sinn Fein Assembly member Caral Ni Chuilan has since called on the Justice Minister to intervene as a matter of urgency in the ongoing situation and reiterated that a prior deal has been reneged on.

Ms Ni Chuilan commented: "In August last year after lengthy negotiations an agreement on the future management of Roe House was reached between the prisoners, the administration and the Department of Justice.

"It is clear that the prisoners in Roe House believe that the terms of that agreement have not been honoured.

"Over the weekend a protest resumed carried out by a section of those being held in Roe House. It is important that this situation is not allowed to escalate further and is quickly resolved," she said.

"The blueprint for doing that is already there. It is the agreement reached last August. The Justice Minister now needs to intervene to see the implementation of that agreement."

However, the newly elected MLA for Lagan Valley, the DUP's Paul Givan, insisted that Maghaberry must "hold the line" and not make concessions to protesting prisoners.

Mr Givan stated: "This is all designed to try to test the system - to get more privileges for prisoners who don't deserve these privileges. And they need to be dealt with in a regime that recognises the type of individuals that they are."

In a statement, the Prison Service said there could be "no justification" for protests by prisoners and that it is "committed to dialogue with prisoners so that issues of concern can be addressed in a peaceful and non-confrontational manner."

The high security facility has been in the spotlight in recent months and been under pressure to make improvements following a number of scandals - including the death of inmates in custody and the mistaken release of dangerous prisoners.

Also, last June, a republican prisoner, Liam Hannaway - who ended a 42-day hunger strike in May 2010 - effectively had his own 'demands' met.

A relative of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, his move back to the mainstream prison at the high security Maghaberry prison was initially being kept very low key.

The prisoner was previously being held in a vulnerable prisoners' unit for his own protection - rather than on a wing with other dissidents as the prison authorities believed his life would be in danger if he were moved to the republican wing.

But, a Prisons Press and Communications Unit spokeswoman said last year: "I can confirm that Mr Hannaway is now being located in the general prison population."

The latest prison protest again underlines the use of such tactics in Maghaberry in recent times and also comes 30 years after the infamous H-block hunger strikes in which 10 IRA prisoners died.

See: Prison Deal Halts Derry Protest

See: Maghaberry Prison Talks In Disarray

See: Republican Hunger Striker 'Rewarded'

(JG/BMcC)