Panel to hear prison officer appeals

Published Monday, 26 April 2010
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An independent panel is to be appointed to hear appeals from Northern Ireland prison staff disciplined after an inmate took his own life while under their care.

The long-running protest by wardens which followed the disciplinary action and soured relations on the wings has now ended.

Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers Association, said he believes the process will be "fair" and he will accept the outcome.

"It was always my hope for better industrial relations but, where you get a management hell-bent on coming to an agreement with the association and breaking every agreement, they made that difficult."

Colin Bell, 34, died at Maghaberry jail in July 2008. He was on suicide watch at the time and was meant to be monitored every 15 minutes.

However, some officers who were supposed to be supervising him were watching television.

An inspection team appointed by the Government recommended a number of changes to the prison regime last year. Another independent review highlighted shortcomings in a disciplinary process that led to 10 prison officers being recommended for dismissal.

The officers were investigated following the death. Three senior officers were demoted, two resigned, and cases against five officers were thrown out.

The 10 officers recommended for dismissal are appealing against the ruling. The review did not conclude that the punishments were wrong.

The resulting "withdrawal of goodwill" by the POA ended on April 9 after Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward sought a court injunction against the POA, an application which was adjourned on April 1 when the POA agreed to suspend the work to rule.

Justice minister David Ford said: "The withdrawal of goodwill by the Prison Officers Association ended on 9 April.

"The dispute related to the handling of disciplinary cases and NIPS management and the POA have agreed to appoint an Independent Appeal Panel to hear the appeals in these cases."

© Press Association
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1 Comments
Michael Allistone in London wrote (733 days ago):
Please i want to know if a man called Gerald Bosco was been detained since October, 2009 till now.
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