Northern Ireland

Follow-up inspection begins today at Maghaberry Prison

A follow-up inspection is due to begin today at Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn
A follow-up inspection is due to begin today at Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn A follow-up inspection is due to begin today at Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn

A follow-up inspection at Northern Ireland's only high-security prison, which one inspector labelled the "most dangerous" he had ever visited, is due to begin today.

Inspectors are returning to Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn, two months after a report found it was "in crisis".

A report by Criminal Justice Inspection (CJINI) and Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales (HMIP) described the jail as "unstable and unsafe" for prisoners and staff.

More than 20 inspectors will spend the next two weeks assessing what improvements have been made since the report was published in November.

The findings of their follow-up inspection are expected to be released before May.

The initial inspection had found that if issues were not addressed immediately at the jail then "serious disorder or loss of life could occur".

Nick Hardwick from the HMIP said it was the most dangerous prison he had visited and claimed conditions were Dickensian.

Brendan McGuigan, chief inspector of Criminal Justice NI, also said their report on Maghaberry was the "most concerning ever" regarding a prison in Northern Ireland.

"Maghaberry had become unsafe and unstable and was in a downward spiral that could have led to serious consequences," he said.

"This was in our collective opinion, a prison in crisis."

Almost 1,000 prisoners are housed at the jail, including around 50 with loyalist and republican paramilitary affiliations who are held in separated accommodation.