Catholic Prisoners In Magilligan Worse Off Than Protestant Inmates - Report

Catholic prisoners in Magilligan jail are worse off than Protestant inmates in Northern Ireland, according to a new report.

The inspection was carried out by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons in England and Wales (HMIP) with support from colleagues from the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) and the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI).

Brendan McGuigan, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, and Peter Clarke, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales, said: "Poorer outcomes for Catholic prisoners remain in a number of key areas and it is our view that there needs to be a greater focus on the underlying reasons for these differences. It is our view the Northern Ireland Prison Service needs expert independent support to achieve this."

The Chief Inspectors also remained concerned that an integrated drugs and alcohol strategy still did not exist at Magilligan Prison, aimed at reducing supply and addressing the needs of prisoners with substance misuse or addiction problems.

"Reducing the supply and use of illicit and illegal drugs is a major challenge which requires a strategic approach. We recommend there should be a prison wide drug and alcohol strategy with an associated action plan to address both supply reduction and support issues," said Mr Clarke.

SDLP Policing and Legacy Spokesperson Dolores Kelly MLA said the report cannot be allowed to conceal the fact that there remain serious problems.

She said: "This report also identifies serious disparities in the experiences of Catholic and Protestant prisoners, particularly in areas where staff discretion is concerned. It cannot be acceptable that over 70% of Catholic prisoners report that a member of staff has not checked in on them personally in the last week. And similarly almost 75% report that staff do not speak to them most of the time during association.

"Brendan McGuigan first raised some of these issues over a decade ago and it is astounding that there has been no effective remedial action.

"Progress has clearly been made at the prison but for Catholic prisoners, and those addicted to drugs, there is clearly a long way to go. I'm not sure there is cause for the head of the Prison Service to be 'absolutely delighted' when there are clearly many issues to resolve."

(CD)