Maghaberry 'Incident' Ends

An 'incident' at Maghaberry Prison that saw planned visits cancelled has ended, the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) Director General said.

Some 200 people are thought to have gathered outside the prison yesterday to protest in support of dissident republican prisoners.

Director General Sue McAllister said: "I can confirm the incident involving separated prisoners in Roe House has ended with no injuries to staff or prisoners.

"Managing prisoners in a high security facility is challenging. We are clear that we wish to move to a normalised regime within a secure environment. The report by the Independent Assessment Team which was published at the end of last year remains the best way to make progress in Roe House.

"The Prison Service remains committed to the implementation of the recommendations within the stocktake report. However this can only happen in an environment where the Agreement is honoured and our staff are free from threats and intimidation."

Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott said: "The campaign by republican prisoners to cause disruption and attempt to gain control of the landings must not be allowed in any circumstances.

"They are seeking to replicate an old tactic of the IRA, to run the prisons on their terms and the issuing of threats to Prison Officers is part of their campaign. The IRA tactic of murdering Prison Officers has also been revived with the brutal murder of David Black in November 2012.

"They claim that they are protesting against regressive structural changes and free movements within republican wings at Roe House but we must never forget that many of these terrorists have carried out some of the most heinous crimes and should not be offered any privileges or concessions."

(IT/CD)