THE mother of a two-year-old boy has claimed her son was refused entry to Maghaberry prison because he was wearing camouflage-coloured shoes.
Carol McLaughlin (30) hit out after her toddler son Donnacha was denied access to the visiting area at the high-security jail yesterday to see his father, Lurgan republican Damian Duffy.
The Prison Service said last night it "regrets any distress caused as a result of this incident" and will be investigating.
Damian Duffy, a brother of high-profile republican Colin Duffy, is currently being held on remand in the jail’s republican Roe House after being charged with targeting a former member of the security forces following the discovery of a mortar in Lurgan last year.
Ms McLaughlin said she had already passed through a search zone in the prison yesterday and was sitting in a waiting area when she was approached by two staff members.
She claimed she was later told that her son’s shoes were not acceptable because "the camouflage posed a threat to the staff because they resembled paramilitary-style clothing".
The mother-of-three also said a senior official insisted they would have to be removed or replaced by other footwear before the visit could go ahead.
She said because she was unwilling to remove the child’s shoes and didn’t have replacement footwear, she was forced to leave the prison without visiting his father.
“I didn’t get angry,” she said.
“I said I thought it was absurd and was it possible they could show some discretion as he is not 20, but only two.”
Ms McLaughlin also said her child had been allowed into the prison in the past wearing the same shoes.
“They have let the child in before so there is discretion to some degree.”
Her legal representative Gavin Booth last night confirmed he has written to the Prison Service.
"This is a disgraceful move by Maghaberry," he said.
"We will be taking this up with all relevant authorities."
In a statement, republican prisoners in Maghaberry described the incident as “an attack on our families”.
A spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service said: "The Prison Service regrets any distress caused as a result of this incident and will be investigating the matter."