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Maghaberry prisoner mistakenly released

Published Monday, 27 June 2011

A prisoner who was jailed for assault with an offensive weapon has been wrongly released from Maghaberry Prison.

George Damien MacFerran was released from custody on Friday, despite still having six weeks left to serve on his sentence.

The 47-year-old was found by the PSNI on Monday and has been returned to prison.

The Justice Minister said he is "appalled" at the erroneous release.

"I have had an initial briefing on this incident and have directed that a thorough investigation be launched immediately," said David Ford.

"I want to know exactly how this has happened and how it took two days for the error to come to light. If it turns out that individuals are to blame the Director General has assured me that appropriate action will be taken."

Last year, Mr Ford ordered a disciplinary investigation after three prisoners were wrongfully released from jail in the space of two months.

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Comments

10 Comments

henry in north belfast wrote (330 days ago):

the place is that cushy they throw em out as punishment

Aine in Belfast wrote (330 days ago):

Sean d, are you on glue? your explanation is like one Ian Holloway would come up with - only he is funny. UTV, should you wish to publish this - I would say that urgent reform of the prison service is needed. The prison service is not fit for purpose. Every week there's a story about them whether it be about illegal drinking dens for officers, the unfortunate loss of life of inmates or prisoners strolling out without a word said. Shawshank it aint!

Stuart in Belfast wrote (331 days ago):

Another reason never to vote Alliance. Another reason why Ford should be removed from the job he has never held a legal mandate to hold. Local accountability...........yea right!

tom in ards wrote (331 days ago):

prison officers use to work in what is called general offices, i/e working out prisoner release dates etc, due to cut backs civil servants now do these duties, so i think it would be unfair to blame prison officers for this error, the governor who read the prisoner over prior to release should have to explain why he was released?

sean.d in belfast wrote (331 days ago):

i just dont get it ?..why did he not say..hi,,,im in here for another few weeks?...i thought these bad ones, given a prison sentence would come out like my boxers out of the washing machine,,clean and sorry,,, if prison reforms--a washing machine--needs ,,,,a stone wash to truely clean...now im thinking..our prison service needs a stone wash too....and ahh shut up ...any windgers..HE FORGOT HE HAD A FEW ,,other weeks free time left.....yeah i bet.....sorry.... if i was the boss...this chancer would get an extra 3 years....in the wash room...why do i have to get a new code every 5 mins ? and then the new code is ,something only aliens could read ?

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