Maghaberry hopes for more peaceful night

Loyalist prisoners in Northern Ireland’s top security jail were being locked in their cells tonight after a riot during which 18 prison officers were injured.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage was caused when 35 loyalists went on the rampage in Maghaberry Prison outside Lisburn, Co Antrim, over night.

During a ten hour orgy of violence they smashed up snooker and table tennis tables to use as barricades.

It was the latest violence linked to demands for segregation from republicans.

Fires were started before they eventually gave up, some waving white handkerchiefs, as a team of officers prepared to move in to regain control.

Windows, cookers and microwaves were smashed in the wanton destruction, which left the inmates without heat, electricity or water supplies.

The Prison Service said tonight the men had been locked in their cells all day and would remain so for the time being. Meals were being delivered to the cells.

Heating and water supplies have been resumed and emergency lighting installed, said a spokeswoman.

Repair work was ongoing and there was no electricity for such things as cell-based TVs, she added.

A total of eighteen prison officers were injured – mostly suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation – and 15 of them reported sick and failed to go to work today.

Before the lock-up all the loyalist inmates were examined by prison medical staff and none were reported to have been injured, said the spokesman.

Away from the jail, Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable, Hugh Orde, said two pipe bombs found and defused in north Belfast were linked to the prison protest.

He said: “We are convinced it was part of a plan by loyalists to disrupt the community on the back of the prison dispute.”

As the prison authorities counted the cost of the night of violence, Markus Lewis, chairman of the Prison Officers Association in the jail, said it would run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“These people have gone on a rampage of wanton destruction. They have destroyed fridges, cookers, microwave ovens, food servery units, two snooker tables provided for their own recreational purposes.

“They have completely gutted by fire an office with all its equipment. They have smashed up table tennis units and televisions.”

The Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Peter Russell, said: “This was a serious incident that put at risk the safety of both staff and prisoners.

“It is to the great credit of the staff involved that it has concluded without serious injury.

Sources within the prison claimed the prisoners were looking for a return to the days of the Maze Prison when paramilitaries had control of their own sections.

The Prison Service insists it will remain in control of the jail but, on the back of a report published last autumn, it is in the process of introducing the separation of loyalists and republicans.

About £7m (€10.1m) has been spent on modifying two blocks at the prison to introduce permanent segregation of the rival factions and work was due to be completed by next month.

A prison source said inmates were unhappy at the additional security measures which will be introduced to ensure control and protect the safety of staff and prisons.

“What they want is to be housed separately, but to be treated the same as if they were in integrated conditions.

“They have shot themselves in the foot. They say they want to be treated the same as any other prisoner but any other prisoner doesn’t behave in the way they did last night,” said the source.

Assembly member Ian Paisley jnr, Democratic Unionist Policing Board member, said the government had to explain what sort of regime they were trying to run in Maghaberry.

“Is it segregation? Or is it separation ? Whatever it is it isn’t working.”

He added: “We are in danger of becoming the laughing stock of Europe if we don’t watch out.”

He had harsh words too for the inmates who rioted. Their action had been “absolutely outrageous and served no purpose whatsoever except to further alienate the general public who have absolutely no idea what this orgy of violence was about.”

Mr Paisley said prisoners needed to realise their relationship with the prison authorities was symbolic.

“How can they expect to be treated with respect if they don’t treat prison officers with respect.”

Meanwhile, a second day of talks between prison staff, management and the British government over prison officers’ security was held in London.

Prison officers have threatened a UK-wide strike in support of their Northern Ireland colleagues if the government does not respond to their security concerns.