Unionist calls for retraction of rights for Real IRA prisoners

Real IRA inmates should be stripped of compassionate leave rights after a prisoner skipped temporary bail arrangements, it was claimed today.

As dissident republican Ciaran McLaughlin failed to return to jail for a second day, the Ulster Unionist security spokesman Lord Maginnis accused him of breaking a “code of honour”.

He said: “It must now be made clear that there will be no further compassionate leave under any circumstances for members of that organisation.”

Prison authorities have warned they will now be examining closely all further bids by inmates to be let out under a compassionate release scheme.

McLaughlin, 47, hasn’t been seen since he was granted 12-hours freedom from Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim on Monday to attend his grandson’s funeral.

The Derry man – jailed for 18 years after admitting possessing a cache of weapons – was let out in the company of a prison chaplain.

He had complied with two similar release arrangements to visit his terminally ill grandson in hospital.

But it is understood McLaughlin was furious at not being permitted out overnight after the two-year-old died of a brain disorder.

A campaign backed by the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, the SDLP Foyle MP John Hume and city councillors has lobbied for a longer parole.

But Lord Maginnis, the former MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, insisted a tough penalty must now come into force.

“It doesn’t matter whether he’s recaptured or not,” the UUP peer said.

“That organisation cannot discipline itself to honour the terms of a temporary parole and it must be withdrawn.”

A Northern Ireland Prison Service spokeswoman indicated McLaughlin’s actions could have a long-term impact.

“This is a serious matter and a clear abuse of the compassionate temporary release scheme,” she said.

“There has been a denting of public confidence in the scheme which the prison service will need to take into account for future.”

McLaughlin pleaded guilty last November to having a huge arsenal found by police at his Galliagh Park home 12 months earlier.

Shotguns and rifles made in the former Soviet Union, Croatia, Romania and Egypt were seized, along with an improvised single shot sniper rifle with telescopic sight.

At the time he was out of jail on licence after serving part of a 13-year term for having a loaded handgun.

Sentencing him, Lord Justice McCollum said it was clear McLaughlin had dedicated himself to the pursuit of political objectives by violent and unlawful means.

SDLP councillor Pat Ramsey said McLaughlin had hoped for a longer release given the family bereavement.

He added: “I hope he does the honourable thing and go back and serve his time given the number of people who have campaigned for him to get out longer.”

Sinn Fein councillor Barney Hegarty insisted the prisoner’s actions shouldn’t be used to prevent other compassionate parole bids.

He said: “There have been hundreds of prisoners who have availed of this and only a tiny percentage didn’t honour the conditions set.”