Cells wrecked in Maghaberry 'dirty protest'

Published Tuesday, 10 May 2011

A new crisis has hit Northern Ireland's highest security prison, with prisoners taking part in another so-called dirty protest within Maghaberry's walls.

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It is understood 15 republican inmates have wrecked their cells and have been throwing urine and excrement out of their cells onto the prison's landings since last Friday - the day after a judge ruled that full body searches of prisoners at Maghaberry was lawful.

Gary Donnelly from the 32 County Sovereignty Movement - considered to be the political wing of the Real IRA - told UTV that fresh action was being taken after an alleged deal was reneged on by the prison administration.

"It's my understanding that the prisoners are prepared to continue this protest until the situation is resolved," he said.

The latest prison protest comes 30 years after the H-block hunger strikes and is the second time such tactics have been used in Maghaberry in recent times.

"It's sad that coming on the 30th anniversary of the hunger strikers, here we have political prisoners still being denied their rights as political prisoners," Mr Donnelly added.

But the DUP's Paul Givan, a newly elected MLA for Lagan Valley, told UTV that management at Maghaberry must "hold the line" and not make concessions to protesting prisoners.

"This is all designed to try to test the system - to get more privileges for prisoners who don't deserve these privileges," he said. "And they need to be dealt with in a regime that recognises the type of individuals that they are."

In a statement, the Prison Service said there could be "no justification" for protests by prisoners and that it is "committed to dialogue with prisoners so that issues of concern can be addressed in a peaceful and non-confrontational manner".

Maghaberry has been in the spotlight in recent months, with the high security facility under pressure to make improvements following damning reports into a number of scandals - including the death of an inmate in custody and the wrongful release of prisoners.

Comments

23 Comments

republican in YSLAND wrote (14 days ago):

so billy , u say they are not POWs??i think u stand on the other side,isnt it??do u remembert lenny murphty [skankhill butchers!!}and the dead sqouts of the britts!!have evry one not their own right of freedom and soeverinty??this land is almost for 800 years oppressed by an monarch as an kolony!!! THE UVF AND THE UDA ARE THE REAL CRIMINAILS!!!

Anon in Northern Ireland wrote (285 days ago):

Although I may not support ‘the cause’ or the particular beliefs that these people may have it should be noted that many people on this wing (well over 60%) are on remand and have not yet be found guilty of any crime. Since so many people on here are being so honourable and moral I think many of them seem to have forgotten that in this Country you are innocent until proven guilty? I am not fully aware of this agreement however if an agreement was reached last year by both the prison authorities and the prisoners and if it has not been implemented by the prison authorities what do you suggest the prisoners do, from what I have read and heard in the media some of the agreement has been implemented however other parts have not. Negotiations have been on going since August 2010 however no further implementation was being seen by prisoners or mediators? Perhaps the route taken is not one that I would choose or necessarily agree with however if the prison authorities have not honoured their agreement I can see how this could breed discontentment and anger within the prison. I think we all have to remember that any grouping of people who are living together (not only in prison) in an unnatural environment, away from normality and reality can easily get caught up in issues and take steps and actions that you and I living in the outside world would not.

Guilpin in Earth wrote (286 days ago):

Me, a debt ridden south of Ireland?? Are you going to tell me the north's debt free? Have a look at the facts, the north's in as much debt as the south and don't forget it!

me in larne wrote (287 days ago):

think it should be you whose ashamed sadhbh . you talk about human rights where was the human rights when these cowards carried out the murders and bombings that got them where they are today ? i think its about time you woke up no one wants to live in the days where every day a coffin is being carried on the news so why glorify these animals. if you want to live in a debt ridden ireland go on move down south but dont stand here and praise murderers and make them out to be heros and victims.

marge in belfast wrote (287 days ago):

sadhbh, isnt that a case of calling the kettle black ha ha , blinded by hatred, so wot r u doing exactly by standing up for murders , catch a grip of urself , if the wanna live in filth let them , no matter what side of the fence they come from tbh who cares they are in there for a reason and they deserve everything that is thrown at them , punishment is wot they need .

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