Both the BBC and Prison Service have refused to say if any assessments were carried out on a vulnerable inmate who admitted taking unprescribed medication and being "mentally ill" during an interview with Stephen Nolan.
The interview with former inmate Kieran McGrandles (30) was broadcast last month as part of the ‘Jailed: Inside Maghaberry Prison’ BBC series, which was made by Mr Nolan’s production company, Third Street Studios.
Mr McGrandles, a father of-one, revealed he had taken medication not prescribed to him, issued violent threats and said he had been sexually abused as a child.
On Tuesday the Irish News revealed that a Consultant in Addictions at the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust wrote in a letter to Mr MGrandles’ parents that concerns would have been raised with the BBC if medical experts in Maghaberry Prison had been aware of the interview contents.
Read More:
Stephen Nolan programme: Interview concerns would have been raised by medical experts
Do not broadcast Stephen Nolan interview with vulnerable man, plead victim's family
“Healthcare in Prison had no part in this documentary and we were not given the opportunity to see the programme in a timely fashion before it went out,” the consultant wrote.
“Had we been aware of the contents we would certainly have raised our concerns to the BBC prior to it being aired.
“This film does not portray Kieran as he truly was.”
The BBC previously claimed that Mr McGrandles’ gave “informed consent” for the interview.
However, when asked to confirm if any assessments were carried out to establish Mr McGrandles’ fitness to be interviewed or to give “informed consent”, the BBC said it would not be providing a comment.
In addition, the corporation failed to provide details of when the interview was carried out.
The Prison Service also failed to respond directly as to whether assessments had been carried out.
In a statement a spokesman said that following discussions with the production company “NI Prison Service gave permission to film in Maghaberry during the summer of 2022”.
“NIPS agreed to make prisoners aware of the programme, and any person taking part did so voluntarily," it said.