Dissident inmates end dirty protest

Published Wednesday, 21 November 2012
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Dissident republican inmates at Maghaberry Jail have called off their long-running dirty protest.

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In a statement to The Irish News, 22 prisoners said their demonstration against issues including strip searches would end on Wednesday morning.

Last year the group, which is aligned with the 'new IRA' who claimed responsibility for the murder of prison officer David Black, began the dirty and no-wash protest.

The inmates who have stopped the demonstration are being held at landing four at Roe House, while five dissidents who are being held in isolation in another part of the jail say they will continue until they are moved to Roe Four.

But it is understood that although the majority will no longer be on dirty protest, the dissident prisoners will continue to refuse to cooperate with strip searches.

Instead, they want body scanners to be brought in, similar to that currently being trialled at Magilligan Prison.

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey has welcomed the prisoner's decision to come off dirty protest, and urged the Department of Justice to introduce body scanners.

"This is a very welcome move on the part of the prisoners and will alleviate not only their own discomfort but also that of their families, who have been very concerned about their welfare," said the Foyle representative.

"It is now incumbent on the Department of Justice to show good faith in response to this decision by accelerating the timetable to introduce full-body scanners as a replacement for strip-searches, restoring dignity to prisoners while maintaining the highest levels of security."

Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney said the development "creates the space for the resolution to the prison dispute".

He continued: "The agreement reached in 2010 provides the way forward and with good will on all sides this is an opportunity to end the protest within the prison.

"Prisoners and prison staff need to be treated with dignity and respect and the minister's intention to seek a technological solution to the issue of strip searching provides an avenue to resolving the issue."

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