Loyalist and republican prisoners to be separated

The permanent separation of loyalist and republican prisoners in Northern Ireland’s top security Maghaberry jail was finally ready to be implemented today.

The Prison Service is making a series of accommodation moves by inmates which will result in the total separation of designated loyalists and republicans within a fortnight, said a spokesman.

The British government has spent around £7m (€10.5m) on security measures preparing two cell blocks in the Co Antrim prison, Bush House and Roe House, for the paramilitary prisoners.

It will cost an additional £7m (€10.5m) a year to run the new regime which requires extra prison officers.

The British government insists the move is not a return to the segregation days of the old, now closed, Maze Prison where paramilitary groups were in virtual control of their blocks.

Ministers are determined that the prison authorities will remain in total control.

Under the new regime prison officers will remain on wings, cells will be locked and there will be regular checks on inmates.

Prison Service director general, Peter Russell, has stated: “The whole basis of our planning is that staff will remain fully in control here.

“We fully intend that the governor, through his staff, will remain completely in control.”

The separation is being introduced in the wake of violent clashes between rival factions, a loyalist wrecking spree, hunger strike and regular attacks on the homes of prison officers, coupled with a dissident republican ’dirty protest’.

It was given the go ahead last autumn following a report by John Steele, a former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and former head of security policy for the Northern Ireland Office.

He said it should be implemented on security and safety grounds.

His review team spoke to more than 100 prisoners, senior prison management, unions and staff before making the recommendation.

They also heard from political parties, prisoners families and the prison Board of Visitors.

A visit was also made to view Portlaoise Prison where differing republican factions are held separately.

Currently there are 32 designated loyalists and 26 republicans in the jail who will be separated out of a total prison population of just under 740 – but the prison service said it did not know how many would eventually seek separation.

A spokesman said it was possible, particularly among loyalists, that more inmates would seek to be designated and separated on paramilitary grounds.

However the separated groups will not fill the two 92 cell houses and the empty cells will have to be used.

The prison service spokesman said they “can’t afford” to have what could be upwards of 100 cells lying empty.

He said: “We have not decided yet what to do“, but said cells could be allocated to some short term prisoners.