DUP calls on Murphy to act on Prison Service HQ breach

The DUP has called for "heads to roll" after protestors forced their way into the Government offices of the Northern Ireland Prison Service yesterday.

Around 30 protestors forced their way onto the sixth floor of Dundonald House at Stormont in protest over republican prisoners having to share cells with loyalist inmates.

Government sources claimed confidential documents where not accessed by the protestors despite reports to the contrary.

Expressing his shock at the revelation, DUP Policing board member Ian Paisley jnr was left in no doubt who was behind the protest. He said: "Events at Castlereagh Police Station, the Stormont spy-ring, the theft of information from the Royal Victoria Hospital and now this daylight raid on the prison service office, in full glare of the media, has created an absolutely shambolic state of affairs.

"People have a right to expect the highest level of protection to be afforded to the storage of their personal information. I am frustrated at the lack of a response from the Government.

"As a result of this serious state of affairs I am not only calling for heads to roll but would expect heads to roll. It is time the Secretary of State and others demonstrated some responsibility."

Mr Paisley called on the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, to make a statement on what is now happening in Northern Ireland with regard to alleged republican intelligence gathering operations. "His policy of security cuts is making it easier for terrorists to gather information and prepare for further murder and mayhem," he added.

The Prison Service has said that a review of security is under way at the site.

A spokesman for the service said that thanks to the "courage and determination of staff", all confidential filing cabinets were secured.

Yesterday's protest followed Wednesday's revelation that dissident republicans have been operating an intelligence gathering operation at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

It is believed that republicans had been using medical records to access personal records of politicians, members of the district policing partnership and members of the security forces.

One man, a clerk at the Royal Victoria Hospital, has been charged and remanded in custody following the allegations.

(MB)