Prison Watchdog's Hits Out At NIO

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is getting some unwanted exposure today as the outgoing 'watchdog' over Northern Ireland's jails has revealed that "irreconcilable differences" with the NIO led to his protest resignation.

Prisoner Ombudsman Brian Coulter, who announced his resignation earlier this year because of the dispute, has today renewed concerns about his office's independence in his final annual report.

His role was to investigate complaints by inmates, but he said he had become "increasingly disenchanted" with the Government's failure to give his office proper statutory footing that would make him independent of the NIO - since the department also runs Northern Ireland jails.

He said the Government had "largely disregarded" his views.

In his last annual report published today, Mr Coulter indicated he was "heartened" by some legislative changes, "if somewhat sceptical about the process and timescale", noting that the advertisement for his replacement said, "Government is currently considering options to place the Office on a statutory footing".

"In particular my views on the lines of accountability and independence for the Prisoner Ombudsman were largely disregarded in the draft legislation to be incorporated in the Ministry of Justice sponsored Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill," he commented in interviews today.

In his resignation letter earlier this year, Mr Coulter indicated he was particularly concerned that his office was under the control of the Secretary of State - who is also in charge of the prisons the Ombudsman investigates. He said the Ombudsman should be directly accountable to Parliament.

(BMcC)