NI prison staff settle safety dispute

The British government tonight avoided the possibility of a nationwide prison officers’ strike after reaching agreement over security measures for employees in the North.

After two days of intense talks between the government, prisons management and the Prison Officers Association in London, all sides said they were happy that agreement had been reached.

Prison officers across the UK had threatened to strike in support of their Northern Ireland colleagues over concerns about their safety.

Employees in the Northern Ireland Prison Service had protested over what they believed were inadequate security measures in the wake of the discovery in 2002 of an alleged IRA intelligence gathering operation at Stormont.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said tonight he was content with the outcome of the past two days’ talks.

Full details of what was agreed were expected to be announced tomorrow.

Mr Murphy confirmed: “We have resolved the outstanding issues that were before us.

“We hope that this will lead to a good climate of industrial relations.”

Prison officers had involved the TUC in the discussions.

During the talks, disturbances broke out at Maghaberry jail in Co Antrim.

Around 35 loyalist prisoners barricaded themselves into Bann House after starting a fire in the block.

Eighteen prison officers were treated for shock and smoke inhalation as a result of the disturbances.

The prison authorities regained control after 10 hours, shortly before 6am today.

Loyalist inmates were tonight locked in their cells in a bid to avert trouble.