The Five Demands

Alan Longwell fu costretto a dare le dimissioni dal carica di governatore di Maghaberry dopo che un ergastolano si era tolto la vita nella sua cella, impiccandosi

Aria di cambiamenti all’interno del Dipartimento di Giustizia. Il primo a trovar conferma è la nomina di Alan Longwell a governatore del carcere di Magilligan. Longwell lasciò Maghaberry dopo il suicidio di Colin Bell. Il trentaquattrenne che stava scontando una condanna all’ergastolo per omicidio, aveva una storia di autolesionismo alle spalle e per questa ragione era tenuto a stretta sorvenglianza. Questo non fu sufficiente ad evitare che si impiccasse nella sua cella. Indagini interne al carcere, rivelarono in seguito gravi negligenze degli agenti che avevano il compito di assicurarsi che il prigioniero non potesse nuocere a se stesso in alcun modo.
Novità anche a Maghaberry, con la nomina a governatore di Pat Maguire e a suo vice di Austin Treacy. “Sia Pat che Alan hanno una ricchezza di esperienza come governatori del Northern Ireland Prison Service. Tuttavia, cosa più importante, hanno confermato il loro impegno alla guida attraverso le riforme necessarie, che dobbiamo intraprendere”, ha dichiarato Colin McConnell, direttore generale del NI Prison Service, il quale ha rivelato un’ulteriore novità. D’ora in poi i governatori dovranno riferire direttamente al direttore generale. “Questo nuovo livello di responsabilità sottolinea il nostro impegno a cambiare e diventare un servizio più efficiente, efficace e focalizzato sugli obiettivi”.
Nominato anche un nuovo vice governatore Hydebank Wood.
Tutto questo a poche settimane dal rapporto sulla revisione carceraria richiesta dal Ministro della Giustizia, David Ford.
McConnell ha anche sottolineato l’importanza di attirare nuove reclute nel Prison Service. “Nel corso dell’anno ho anche intenzione di lanciare una campagna di reclutamento finalizzato ad attirare laureati verso gli alti livelli dirigenziali delle carceri – per la prima volta in 20 anni, hanno avuto luogo in Irlanda del Nord, assunzioni esterne al grado governatore”.

Top job for ex-Maghaberry governor (UTV)
A prison governor removed from his post at Maghaberry, after a damning report into the suicide of an inmate, has been given a top job as head of Magilligan jail.
Alan Longwell’s appointment was confirmed by the Department of Justice, as the Northern Ireland Prison Service prepares to undertake major reforms.
Mr Longwell left Maghaberry in the wake of convicted murderer Colin Bell’s death. The 34-year-old, who was serving a life sentence, had a history of self-harming and was on suicide watch when he hanged himself in his cell.
Several officers later faced disciplinary charges.
New appointments have also been made at Maghaberry, with Pat Maguire taking up the governor post and Austin Treacy the deputy governor role.
“Both Pat and Alan have a wealth of experience as governors within the Northern Ireland Prison Service. However, and more importantly, they have confirmed that they are committed to driving through the necessary reforms we must undertake,” new Director-General of the Prison Service, Colin McConnell, said.
Maghaberry’s high-security facility near Lisburn has been at the centre of numerous recent controversies – including ‘dirty protests’ by dissident republican prisoners over their treatment in Roe House, and the departure of a newly-appointed governor after just five months due to a security threat.
Among other changes to the Prison Service system, all governors will now report directly to the director-general.
“This new level of accountability underlines our commitment to change and become a more efficient, effective and delivery-focused service,” Mr McConnell said.
A new post for a second deputy governor has also been created at Hydebank Wood, focusing on the management of the women’s facility. The role will be filled later this year.
The appointments come just weeks before the initial report of a major prisons review ordered by Justice Minister David Ford. Dame Anne Owers was asked last year to conduct a review after a series of reports were strongly critical of the penal system in Northern Ireland.
Her team is expected to produce an initial report followed by more comprehensive recommendations before the summer.
Along with major reforms, Mr McConnell has also stressed the importance of attracting new recruits into the Prison Service.
He added: “Later in the year I also intend to launch a recruitment campaign aimed at attracting graduates as future senior prison managers – the first time in 20 years that external recruitment to the governor grade has taken place in Northern Ireland.”

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• Prisons chief appoints new staff (bbc.co.uk)