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Maghaberry Prison Report Highlights
A recent report by prison
inspectors at Maghaberry Prison has revealed a number of disturbing
facts. The report, on a visit on 19-23 Jan. 2009 and recently published
highlights the conditions of the prison population in general. These
conditions of the common criminal should be considered to be the bare
minimum of that which is put up with by Republican Political prisoners,
who have historically met with sub-par treatment during incarceration.
Some quotes from the
inspection team report:
"The
complaints system provided no confidentiality. Around a third of
complaints were answered out of time, replies varied in standard and
there was no effective quality monitoring. We found a number of
complaints against staff, some of which made very serious allegations of
assault that had not been answered at the appropriate level and most of
which needed further investigation. As previously, a high number in our
survey said they had been encouraged to withdraw complaints." page 21
"Almost half said they had been victimized by a member of staff. Many
prisoners added comments about staff, specifically expressing their
dissatisfaction with treatment by the search team " page 39
"None of the staff wore name badges or had numbered epaulets, so could
not be identified by prisoners." page 40
"Complaints had been made by four different prisoners about an alleged
assault by Staff on a prisoner in a neighbouring cell during a night
search. The response was ‘this is not a complaint relating to this
inmate, therefore cannot be answered’. No investigation had taken place
despite the seriousness of the allegations." page 42
"...general movement around the site was slower than at comparable
prisons. The restricted movement system used on the separated units had
not
changed. Only three prisoners were allowed out at any one time, with no
less than five staff present. Prisoners could be rub-down searched up to
three times when covering a very short distance, still in full view of
staff at all times. This was in spite of the fact that we were told
that instructions had been issued by HQ to prevent this." page 82
One
other aspect throughout the report was that the SST (Search and Standby
Team) were "particularly intimidating". The report stated "Many
complained that there was little to control their (the SST) behaviour
and that the SST not the Governor controlled the prison." The report
even went so far as to recommend "The search and standby team should be
disbanded and its resources used to allow prison searching and incident
management to be carried out by generic residential and security staff."
Despite this report their have been repeated offenses against Republican
political prisoners shown recently. In one instance, while guards were
doing a search of a prisoner’s cell they confiscated a bottle of
shampoo. On the prisoner asking if he was no longer allowed to take
showers, the guards beat him, and, as if that were not enough, they
bound him by his legs and hands. They then sent him to the punishment
blocks for a number of hours.
Another example is a prisoner who was due for a legal visit. The visit
which was due to last two hours was delayed and he was allowed just five
minutes with his solicitor. This prisoner and two of his comrades have
already been awaiting their trial 27 months and cannot even have a full
visit with their solicitor.
The
maltreatment, of all prisoners, must stop. The treatment of
Republican prisoners especially has a long way to go. Political
Prisoners have been fighting for their rights as such for decades in
English prison systems. In 1981 ten men died to remind the world that
English injustice cannot be allowed to reign. There is no excuse for any
of the depredations laid out in this report. Political Prisoners, who
have already given so much for their country, deserve the full support
of the public at large and Irish Republicans from around the world. They
are a constant reminder of the needless and unsanctioned occupation of
the northern six counties by a foreign power. It is essential to
remember that until they, and Ireland, are free this sadistic treatment
of Republican political prisoners will surely continue.
Click on the below link for complete report
Darryl Levey
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