Police launch investigation into jail death

Police have launched an investigation into the death of a female remand prisoner at Maghaberry Prison.

Roseanne Irvine, 34, was found dead in her cell on Wednesday night.

Detectives do not believe anyone else was involved in her death.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission said the death occurred in a week when researchers from the Commission are visiting the prison to investigate all aspects of the regime and conditions under which women prisoners are living there.

Professor Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the Commission, said: “Clearly there will need to be a wide-ranging and detailed inquiry into why and how this young woman who was in the custody of the state died.

"The Commission will do all that it can to ensure that all the surrounding circumstances are carefully examined. We will also be expediting our own research into conditions at Mourne House so that we can make appropriate recommendations as quickly as possible.”

This week's death in custody is the sixth in Northern Ireland’s prisons in less than two years.

(MB)