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Maghaberry Prison: Incident on dissident republican wing over | Maghaberry Prison: Incident on dissident republican wing over |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An incident involving dissident republican inmates at Maghaberry Prison has now ended. | An incident involving dissident republican inmates at Maghaberry Prison has now ended. |
Earlier, prison management withdrew staff from the landings in Roe House housing dissidents. | Earlier, prison management withdrew staff from the landings in Roe House housing dissidents. |
Sources have told the BBC that prison officers are now back on the landings and that dissident republican inmates have returned to their cells. | Sources have told the BBC that prison officers are now back on the landings and that dissident republican inmates have returned to their cells. |
It is understood the incident - which involved at least 40 inmates - ended without the use of force. | It is understood the incident - which involved at least 40 inmates - ended without the use of force. |
A protest, involving about 200 people, took place outside the prison. | |
At one stage some of the protesters attacked the car of a prison officer arriving for work. | |
Northern Ireland Prison Service director general Sue McAllister said: "I can confirm the incident involving separated prisoners in Roe House has ended with no injuries to staff or prisoners." | Northern Ireland Prison Service director general Sue McAllister said: "I can confirm the incident involving separated prisoners in Roe House has ended with no injuries to staff or prisoners." |
She also said the prison service remained committed to the recent Stocktake report by the Roe House Independent Assessment Team. | She also said the prison service remained committed to the recent Stocktake report by the Roe House Independent Assessment Team. |
"Managing prisoners in a high security facility is challenging. We are clear that we wish to move to a normalised regime within a secure environment," she said. | "Managing prisoners in a high security facility is challenging. We are clear that we wish to move to a normalised regime within a secure environment," she said. |
"The report by the independent assessment team which was published at the end of last year remains the best way to make progress in Roe House. | "The report by the independent assessment team which was published at the end of last year remains the best way to make progress in Roe House. |
"The prison service remains committed to the implementation of the recommendations within the Stocktake report. | "The prison service remains committed to the implementation of the recommendations within the Stocktake report. |
"However this can only happen in an environment where the agreement is honoured and our staff are free from threats and intimidation." | "However this can only happen in an environment where the agreement is honoured and our staff are free from threats and intimidation." |
Earlier, the prison service has said it was dealing with an "ongoing incident" at the County Antrim prison. | Earlier, the prison service has said it was dealing with an "ongoing incident" at the County Antrim prison. |
It is understood prison service management withdrew staff from Roe House landings because of verbal abuse and threats from dissident inmates. | It is understood 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' | '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. | 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 were locked down in a number of areas within their wing. | Little information has been made available about Monday's incident, but prisoners were locked down in a number of areas within their wing. |
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. |