Republicans and loyalists ‘co-operate in campaign to segregate prisons’
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has accused the warring groups of orchestrating the campaign, with loyalists attacking the homes of staff on the outside while republican prisoners hold dirty protests and rooftop protests.
Four prisoners last night continued their protest on the roofs of two remand blocks of Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim. A ‘Segregation Now’ banner was held up by the prisoners.
While political representatives of the two republican dissident groups claimed none of the four were attached to their organisations, prison officers claimed the protest was part of the campaign to have segregation introduced.
One of the four has declared he is a republican while the other three are from the nationalist community.
“This is an organised campaign. Loyalists and republicans like to give the impression that they are out to kill each other but they are working to the same agenda,” said Finlay Spratt, head of the North’s POA.
Mr Spratt said there have been up to five recent pipe bomb attacks on the homes of prison officers, while republicans continue their dirty protest behind bars, smearing excrement on the walls of the cells. “There’s no doubt in my mind that, when it suits these paramilitary groups, they work hand in hand.”
The protest began on Thursday afternoon as a government-appointed review team was visiting the jail. At the same time two suspect devices were found in the blocks but later declared hoaxes. All visits to the prison were cancelled yesterday.
As the protest at the jail continued, bemused police officers were called to Belfast city centre early yesterday after reports that a lone man was on the rooftop of a building. Parts of the centre were sealed off as police tried to talk down the man, who said he was protesting against conditions in Maghaberry.
Republicans deny involvement in the protests. Marian Price, of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, the political representatives of the Real IRA, said it was untrue that republicans were involved in the protest.
But Mr Spratt said there was a culture within prisons whereby the paramilitary groups attempt to claim inmates, even those that clearly are not attached. He said it was important the prisons remain desegregated.
“We want to maintain an integrated prison system where everybody co-operates with the system. It’s in the prisoners’ and the wider community’s interest. The day that you give them segregation, you might as well burn the Good Friday Agreement,” he said.
