Maghaberry Prison protest ends in agreement

Maghaberry Prison

THE prisoners’ protest in Roe House, Maghaberry, over conditions and visiting rights was resolved on August 12th after protracted talks between prison authorities and a facilitation group made up of members from the of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Creggan Enterprises in Derry, and the Amsterdam-based Dialogue Advisory Group.

Sinn Féin delegations had also met the prisoners and the authorities. The party has always argued, privately and publicly, that the situation could be resolved if the political will was there.

Welcoming the outcome, Sinn Féin Assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín said:

“In recent months, along with other Sinn Féin representatives, I have met the prisoners in Roe House, their families and the group representing them on the outside. _I have also held many meetings with the prison administration and Justice Minister David Ford, as has Martin McGuinness.

“All along it was our firm view that if the necessary political will was demonstrated that the situation in Roe House could be resolved.”

The Sinn Féin MLA said that prisoners need to be treated with dignity and respect.

“It is now important that the deal reached is implemented fully and in a spirit of good faith. For our part, as members of the Justice Committee, we will continue to monitor the situation carefully.”

A week after the resolution of the dispute, Sinn Féin again met with the prisoners. The delegation included Carál Ní Chuilín and Raymond McCartney.

Speaking after the meeting, Raymond McCartney said:

“Over a period of some months, Sinn Féin was active in trying to bring about an agreement which would resolve the significant difficulties in Roe House. The conditions in that part of the prison were unacceptable.

“Thankfully, after significant work, the prisoners and the prison administration have reached an agreement which saw the protest ending last week. This was a welcome development.

“At our meeting with the prisoners today we made it clear that we would do all in our power to ensure that the agreement reached is implemented fully and we would not accept any attempts to row back on commitments made in the face of opposition from the Prison Officers’ Association.”