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Maghaberry Prison: 'Ongoing incident' at dissident republican wing | Maghaberry Prison: 'Ongoing incident' at dissident republican wing |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Northern Ireland Prison Service has said it is dealing with an "ongoing incident" at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim. | The Northern Ireland Prison Service has said it is dealing with an "ongoing incident" at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim. |
The incident is believed to be at Roe House, a building on the prison estate where dissident republican prisoners are held separately from other inmates. | The incident is believed to be at Roe House, a building on the prison estate where dissident republican prisoners are held separately from other inmates. |
The BBC understands that Prison Service management withdrew staff from Roe House landings because of verbal abuse and threats from dissident inmates. | The BBC understands that Prison Service management withdrew staff from Roe House landings because of verbal abuse and threats from dissident inmates. |
The situation has been tense for weeks. | The situation has been tense for weeks. |
'Locked down' | |
Last week, a group representing some dissident republican prisoners in the jail released a statement saying that recent structural changes to Roe House landings were an attempt to debase and disempower the inmates. | |
Little information has been made available about Monday's incident, but prisoners are locked down in a number of areas within their wing. | |
A Prison Service spokeswoman said staff were trying to resolve situation but would not comment further. | |
Prison visits have not been affected. | |
Maghaberry Prison is Northern Ireland's only high-security jail. | Maghaberry Prison is Northern Ireland's only high-security jail. |
It houses men who have been convicted of serious offences as well as remand prisoners awaiting trial. | It houses men who have been convicted of serious offences as well as remand prisoners awaiting trial. |
The inmates are held in both separated and integrated conditions. | The inmates are held in both separated and integrated conditions. |