Prison officers threaten strike

Locking up at Maghaberry prison

Prison officers have threatened to take industrial action following attacks on five members of staff at Northern Ireland's high security jail.

Members of the Prison Officers' Association are due to meet management on Thursday to discuss the issue of safety at Maghaberry prison in County Antrim.

Two officers were punched and kicked by a prisoner at the Foyle House building on Wednesday and three others were hurt in an assault by an inmate on Tuesday.

Prison Officers' Association chairman Finlay Spratt said remand and sentenced prisoners were not getting the treatment which they used to get, because of the resources devoted to paramilitary inmates.

I think officers are ready to take the step of strike action and we don't make that decision lightly Finlay Spratt Prison Officers' Association

"Ordinary prisoners are being locked down while the paramilitary prisoners are enjoying full association (normal regime).

"These prisoners are getting totally frustrated and that is why prison officers are bearing the brunt of their anger," he said.

"Staff are becoming totally frustrated. They are being assaulted on the job owing to the lack of resources.

"They have not got adequate security measures at their homes. I think officers are ready to take the step of strike action and we don't make that decision lightly."

In a statement, the Prison Service said it was "trying to deliver as full a regime as possible to all prisoners".

However, it added that at the same time it was "actively engaged in getting ready for the full implementation of the Steel Review", which recommended separating paramilitary prisoners.

The law actually forbids prison officers to be on strike so I don't think that is the way out of this difficulty Peter Russell Prison Service Director

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster the director of the Prison Service, Peter Russell, acknowledged that officers had concerns but said a walkout was not the answer.

"I don't think strike action is the way to deal with the frustration," he said.

"Lots of people will have sympathy for the difficult position of prison staff just now.

"Prison staff exercise the authority of the law over prisoners and the law actually forbids prison officers to be on strike so I don't think that is the way out of this difficulty."

The Prison Officers' Association said the issue of security at the jail, as well as the problems of inadequate security at officers' homes, would be on the agenda at Thursday's meeting.

In September, a review of safety at Maghaberry recommended separating republican and loyalist prisoners.

The move is being introduced in the wake of violent clashes between rival groups in the jail and in the face of a "dirty protest" by a group of dissident republican prisoners.

As well as paramilitary prisoners, Maghaberry houses male and female prisoners, whether they are convicted or on remand, and a number of asylum seekers.