Loyalist prisoners 'forced into strip searches'

Loyalist prisoners are being forced into humiliating strip searches at a high security Northern Ireland prison, it was claimed tonight.

Representatives accused the authorities of trying to inflame tensions at the bitterly divided Maghaberry Jail near Lisburn, Co Antrim.

But prison chiefs insisted the checks were part of a routine attempt to maintain a secure regime.

Sources also revealed inmates linked to Protestant paramilitary organisations had issued chilling death warnings against warders.

The new row threatened to plunge Maghaberry back into crisis, weeks after rival loyalists and republicans were put into separate blocks amid major safety fears.

The Prisoners’ Aid Networking Group claimed its work with the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Prison Officers Association could be put in jeopardy.

In a statement the body said: “Sadly over this past number of days there has been an unnecessary use of strip searches.

“Sometimes a prisoner being moved 400 yards could be strip searched three times within a one-hour period.

“This practice is humiliating, degrading and being used to heighten tensions among the prison population and we are calling for it to end immediately.”

Prison sources denied any inmates were being victimised, insisting instead that warders were facing frightening levels of intimidation from loyalist paramilitaries.

One said: “A Scrabble game was left in the recreation room with the words ‘No more strip searching, time to beat a screw to death’ followed by the letters UDA and UVF.”

A Prison Service spokesman also rejected the claims surrounding what the authorities refer to as full searches.

“It’s clear they are not happy about this, but it’s a matter of routine across the prison,” he said.

“If your cell is searched so are you, and it happens to republicans as well.

“Routine searching is part of everyday prison life and it is to preserve the safety and security of staff and prisoners.”