British govt defend Maghaberry separation decision

The British government today hit back at claims it bowed under terrorist pressure by sanctioning a dangerous scheme of separating loyalist and republican prisoners at a Northern Ireland jail.

But it gave a cool response to a powerful parliamentary committee’s demands to question top Downing Street officials on their role in the decision.

A scathing Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report accused the authorities of going against security assessments of the situation inside Maghaberry Prison because they feared hunger strikers would put even greater strain on the fragile peace process.

The all-party appraisal of the new regime said it was demanded by dissidents for political reasons and acceded to by the British government for other political reasons.

Although members accepted tough choices were needed as the terrorists threatened mayhem inside Maghaberry last summer, they insisted the decision to split paramilitaries was highly dangerous.

But in a response to the committee’s report, Northern Ireland security minister Ian Pearson stressed the separation programme was brought in amid major tensions and based on recommendations from an independent review.

He said: “The (British) government’s view remains that, contrary to the Committee’s belief, the decision to separate paramilitary prisoners was on balance the right one taking into account the political pressures for such a move, the challenges being presented by some prisoners and the need to provide a safe environment for all staff and inmates in the prison.”

The transformation of the prison was agreed to last September after protests by prisoners claiming the regime was unsafe.

Dissident republicans smeared excrement on their cell walls while loyalist bombers on the outside also attacked warders’ homes during the stand-off.

The crisis inside the prison came as the political process in Belfast was plunged into turmoil following the collapse of the Stormont power-sharing Executive.

With the terrorists threatening mayhem, the committee accepted the possibility of making concessions at the time was understandable.

But it described the decision as “profoundly depressing”.

Although separation was recommended by a review team headed by former Northern Ireland Prison Service chief John Steele amid safety fears, the committee suggested other motives came into play.

With the Good Friday Agreement in jeopardy, the committee conceded the authorities may have been faced with taking steps to prevent a further breakdown in relations between unionists and nationalists.

Alongside dirty protests in Maghaberry’s cells, and rooftop protests, concerns arose that the spectre of hunger strikes was also looming.