Northern Ireland

Man credited with helping turn around Maghaberry Prison is appointed new governor

David Savage (left), the new Governor at Maghaberry Prison, is pictured with Ronnie Armour, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
David Savage (left), the new Governor at Maghaberry Prison, is pictured with Ronnie Armour, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. David Savage (left), the new Governor at Maghaberry Prison, is pictured with Ronnie Armour, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

A prison chief praised for helping to transform Maghaberry from one of the most "unsafe" detention facilities in the UK to an example of a modern jail has been appointed its new governor.

Former Deputy Governor David Savage takes up the top role at HMP Maghaberry today, after predecessor David Kennedy was promoted to director of prisons within the NI Prison Service.

Mr Savage was a recipient of the Princess Royal's Prize for Outstanding Achievement in 2019, the highest annual award offered by UK prisons charity the Butler Trust.

He was recognised for his work in helping transform Maghaberry following a damning report in 2015 by the Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) NI and HM Inspectorate of Prisons, which saw it described by an inspector as "one of the worst prisons I've ever seen".

A 2018 follow-up cited "excellent leadership" in turning conditions around.

It stated: "We rarely see a prison make the sort of progress evident at Maghaberry, and it is to the credit of all those involved that many of the outcomes for the men held at the prison are now among the best we have seen in this type of prison in recent years."

Mr Savage said his immediate priority was steering the prison out of the Covid pandemic.

"While there will be challenges ahead, I am focused on working with my colleagues in Maghaberry, as well as the many partners who support us, to keep rehabilitation at the centre of our work," he added.

"At the core of that will be supporting the men in my care to address their offending behaviour and to prepare them for their return to the community."