The governor of the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland is under increasing pressure to step down over his management of the high-security jail.

Protestant politicians have called for the resignation of Martin Mogg after he admitted on BBC television that he was made aware of a risk of violence shortly before a Protestant paramilitary leader was killed by rival gunmen inside the prison.

Donaldson: Mr Mogg's position has become "untenable"

The Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson told the House of Commons that Mr Mogg's position had become "untenable" and he had "no alternative but to resign.

"If he has any integrity he will do it quickly."

Security at the prison - home to nationalist and loyalist inmates - has been under intense scrutiny since the killing of the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright last month and the escape earlier of the IRA's Liam Averill.

Mr Mogg admitted on Tuesday that he should not have trusted rival terrorist groups within the jail when they told him they were not preparing attacks on one another.

The Maze houses loyalist and nationalist paramilitaries

But the Northern Ireland Minister of State Adam Ingram insisted that there was no need for Mr Mogg to quit.

"I am aware that in response to public concern, there have been calls for the resignation of ministers and officials. The Secretary of State [Mo Mowlam] has already made it clear that resignations or dismissals are not an issue," he said.

He added that an inquiry into these "serious security lapses" was already under way.

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