McDowell: No compensation for slopping out

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said today there would be no compensation for prisoners who were forced to slop out their cells.

The Government is facing claims from around 900 prisoners, who claim the practice breaches their human rights.

The class action suit, if successful, could see taxpayers pay out millions to convicted criminals and paramilitary figures.

But Mr McDowell said he was confident of the strength of the Government’s case. “There won’t be any settlements. As a lawyer, I will see them in court.”

He said the recent decision of the European Court on Human Rights, which found in favour of a Scottish prisoner who had been forced to slop out, was an unique case.

However, Mr McDowell added that slopping would eventually end.

“I have set my face against allowing that situation to continue. But it requires a considerable programme of investment.”

Mr McDowell also rejected calls to provide clean needles to drug addicts in jail. “I speak completely in unity with the prison officers who know this would be a recipe for disaster. I think 98% of public opinion would see I’m right on this issue.”

The proposal was made by Minister Noel Ahern after research from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs showed 90% of users in prisons had hepatitis C.

Mr McDowell said he welcomed Mr Ahern’s contribution to the debate and was not “rapping him on the knuckles”.

“But I have responsibility for the running of prisons and for implementing the programme for government which is predicated on a wholly different approach to the question of drugs in prisons,” he added.