Jail appoints former governor from suicide-hit Maghaberry

A prison governor removed from his post after the suicide of an inmate in the North has been appointed head of Magilligan jail.

Alan Longwell left Maghaberry jail after a damning report into the death of an inmate who hanged himself in his cell in August 2008.

The North's Department of Justice confirmed today that Mr Longwell had been appointed governor at Magilligan prison.

The death of Colin Bell led to several night custody officers facing disciplinary charges and three senior prison officers were also charged.

Some night custody officers slept or watched television while Bell, who had a history of self-harming, hanged himself with a makeshift ligature.