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21/07/2009
Report Slams Jail As Among UK's Worst
A Co Antrim prison is one of the worst in the UK - and one of the most expensive to run - according to a new report.
Maghaberry has been heavily criticised by independent inspectors who sprang a surprise visit to the jail earlier this year.
Things are so bad they have listed 200 ways to make the jail better and called for urgent action and better safety procedures.
After the visit to the jail in January the officials called it one of the UK's worst performing prisons.
The damning visit came six months after an inmate hanged himself while he was supposed to be under supervision in a specialist unit.
The report by Criminal Justice Inspection NI and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, which was published on Tuesday, said Maghaberry was one of three jails out of 169 inspected which was particularly poor in the area of safety.
It said the jail failed to meet standards in all four of the internationally recognised tests for prisoner welfare.
Dr Michael Maguire, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, and Dame Anne Owers, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales made the findings.
NIO Security Minister Paul Goggins expressed disappointment at the report's findings: "Whilst there are many dedicated and hard working staff at Maghaberry, there is substantial room for improvement and I have already made clear to the new governor that there has to be a step-change in the way the service is delivered at this prison," he said.
Earlier this year, the Prison Ombudsman made a total of 44 recommendations following the suicide of a prisoner at the facility, including scrutiny of the roles of the then prison governor and his deputy.
The ombudsman, Pauline McCabe launched her investigation after the death last August of Colin Bell, who was in a "suicide-watch" cell because he had a history of self-harming.
During the investigation, CCTV footage showed that over a period of 14 minutes, Mr Bell was holding a ligature and made three attempts to hang himself.
His fourth, successful, suicide attempt was made soon afterwards and before this, he had stood in front of the CCTV camera and very deliberately placed the ligature over his head.
He was not spotted until 38 minutes after this final, successful, attempt to hang himself.
See: Prison Suicide Shock As Warders Slept Or Drank Tea
(BMcC/KMcA)
Maghaberry has been heavily criticised by independent inspectors who sprang a surprise visit to the jail earlier this year.
Things are so bad they have listed 200 ways to make the jail better and called for urgent action and better safety procedures.
After the visit to the jail in January the officials called it one of the UK's worst performing prisons.
The damning visit came six months after an inmate hanged himself while he was supposed to be under supervision in a specialist unit.
The report by Criminal Justice Inspection NI and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, which was published on Tuesday, said Maghaberry was one of three jails out of 169 inspected which was particularly poor in the area of safety.
It said the jail failed to meet standards in all four of the internationally recognised tests for prisoner welfare.
Dr Michael Maguire, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, and Dame Anne Owers, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales made the findings.
NIO Security Minister Paul Goggins expressed disappointment at the report's findings: "Whilst there are many dedicated and hard working staff at Maghaberry, there is substantial room for improvement and I have already made clear to the new governor that there has to be a step-change in the way the service is delivered at this prison," he said.
Earlier this year, the Prison Ombudsman made a total of 44 recommendations following the suicide of a prisoner at the facility, including scrutiny of the roles of the then prison governor and his deputy.
The ombudsman, Pauline McCabe launched her investigation after the death last August of Colin Bell, who was in a "suicide-watch" cell because he had a history of self-harming.
During the investigation, CCTV footage showed that over a period of 14 minutes, Mr Bell was holding a ligature and made three attempts to hang himself.
His fourth, successful, suicide attempt was made soon afterwards and before this, he had stood in front of the CCTV camera and very deliberately placed the ligature over his head.
He was not spotted until 38 minutes after this final, successful, attempt to hang himself.
See: Prison Suicide Shock As Warders Slept Or Drank Tea
(BMcC/KMcA)
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14 March 2017
Female Prison Officer Injured After Being Attacked At Magahberry Jail
A female prison officer has been injured after being attacked by a male inmate at Maghaberry Prison just outside Lisburn. A sharp weapon is believed to have been used. The officer was taken to hospital to be treated. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "A prison officer has suffered a serious injury following an assault by a prisoner in Maghaberry.
Female Prison Officer Injured After Being Attacked At Magahberry Jail
A female prison officer has been injured after being attacked by a male inmate at Maghaberry Prison just outside Lisburn. A sharp weapon is believed to have been used. The officer was taken to hospital to be treated. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "A prison officer has suffered a serious injury following an assault by a prisoner in Maghaberry.
31 August 2021
53-Year-Old Dies In Custody At Maghaberry Prison
A 53-year-old has reportedly died in custody at Maghaberry Prison, the Northern Ireland Prison Service has announced. The Department of Justice has reported that the prisoner died on Saturday 28 August, that his next of kin have been informed and that the death was not covid related.
53-Year-Old Dies In Custody At Maghaberry Prison
A 53-year-old has reportedly died in custody at Maghaberry Prison, the Northern Ireland Prison Service has announced. The Department of Justice has reported that the prisoner died on Saturday 28 August, that his next of kin have been informed and that the death was not covid related.
31 August 2018
Man Dies In Maghaberry Prison
A 22-year-old man has died while in custody at Maghaberry Prison, the Northern Ireland Prison Service has reported. The Department of Justice has confirmed that the man died in custody on the morning of Thursday, 30 August. The man's next of kin have been informed. The PSNI, Coroner and Prisoner Ombudsman have been informed about the death.
Man Dies In Maghaberry Prison
A 22-year-old man has died while in custody at Maghaberry Prison, the Northern Ireland Prison Service has reported. The Department of Justice has confirmed that the man died in custody on the morning of Thursday, 30 August. The man's next of kin have been informed. The PSNI, Coroner and Prisoner Ombudsman have been informed about the death.
14 September 2016
Staff At Maghaberry Prison Watched As Prisoner Self-Harmed
Staff at Maghaberry Prison in Lisburn have been criticised after they failed to intervene while a prisoner blinded himself, according to a Prison Ombudsman report. Sean Lynch, 23, was being detained at the prison in June 2014 and inflicted "extreme and shocking" injuries through self-harm over a three day period.
Staff At Maghaberry Prison Watched As Prisoner Self-Harmed
Staff at Maghaberry Prison in Lisburn have been criticised after they failed to intervene while a prisoner blinded himself, according to a Prison Ombudsman report. Sean Lynch, 23, was being detained at the prison in June 2014 and inflicted "extreme and shocking" injuries through self-harm over a three day period.
23 February 2009
Prison Suicide Report Gets Assembly Discussion
Sinn Féin MLA's Raymond McCartney and Martina Anderson will present a motion at the Stormont Assembly today calling for the full implementations of the recommendations of the report made by the Prison Ombudsman into the death of prisoner Colin Bell in Maghaberry Prison.
Prison Suicide Report Gets Assembly Discussion
Sinn Féin MLA's Raymond McCartney and Martina Anderson will present a motion at the Stormont Assembly today calling for the full implementations of the recommendations of the report made by the Prison Ombudsman into the death of prisoner Colin Bell in Maghaberry Prison.
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