Published Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Violence erupted in the jail on Monday night and last Friday after prison officers started to work to rule on 15 March.
Prisoners have to spend more time locked up in their cells and education classes and workshops have been restricted.
Inmates at Foyle and Lagan Houses smashed cells and caused damage worth thousands of pounds after a letter was issued to prisoners saying that their tuck shop would be reduced.
The unrest is believed to be linked to a dispute between the Prison Officers Association and management, following an investigation into a number of prisoner officers' conduct.
Earlier this month, the Prison Officers Association called for the resignation of three senior bosses, claiming they had no confidence in them.
Suicide
The dramatic move was prompted by concerns over the handling of staff disciplinary proceedings following the suicide of an inmate two years ago.
Following the suicide of Colin Bell in August 2008, two reports were highly critical of the way the prison was run and disciplinary procedures were taken against prison officers who should have been on suicide watch and were instead surfing the internet and watching television.
While the Maghaberry warden and deputy were removed, 13 other staff were disciplined and have appeals pending.
Earlier this month, POA chairman Finlay Spratt said the vast majority of them were not even on duty when Bell died.
He said staff had been denied the "opportunity of natural justice" during the disciplinary process.
"This type of treatment is not acceptable in any democracy if we believe in the right to a fair trial," he said.
But the Prison Officers' Association has now told UTV the dispute has nothing to do with the Colin Bell case.
"It has got to do with management attempting to discipline staff and not following the agreed procedures and it is quite simple they have been found to be wrong, they should step up to the plate, accept they were wrong and put everything back and let's move on", Mr Spratt told UTV.
"There are more things to be done in the prison service instead of us conducting this type of action."
The prison service, which is preparing for the publication on Thursday of the Pearson review's six month interim report into Maghaberry, wants the prison officers to resume negotiations.
In a statement, it said it regrets that the POA has taken this precipitous action and insisted it has engaged proactively with the Association to find an appropriate way forward.
Specific proposals were put on the table last week, the prison service added.