The Five Demands

Justice Minister calls Prison Service report a ‘watershed’ (BBC News NI)
Justice Minister David Ford has called an independent review of the Prison Service a ‘watershed’.
The minister revealed the details of the latest review of Northern Ireland’s prisons to the assembly on Monday.
Up to 500 prison officers are expected to lose their jobs in the shake-up.
The review team, headed by Dame Anne Owers, has made 40 recommendations on how the Northern Ireland Prison Service can operate more efficiently.
An interim report by the same review team in February, labelled the prison service as dysfunctional, demoralised and ineffective.
The justice minister ordered the review. He described the report as a “watershed” for the Prison Service as he accepted its findings.
But Mr Ford said that it may take some time to implement a more modern, progressive systems of dealing with offenders.
“This report both reinforces the need for fundamental reform of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and clearly sets out the size of the challenge ahead, not just for my department but for the assembly,” he said.
“Any thorough and robust review of our prison system was inevitably going to make for uncomfortable reading as many others have in recent years. This report is no exception.
“End to end reform of the Prison Service cannot be achieved overnight and it has taken time to put in place the solid foundations on which to move forward.
“It is therefore vital that we get the process right to ensure change is not only delivered but is embedded across every aspect of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.”
The justice minister said that the coming months are crucial to the pace of change.
“The director general, Colin McConnell, and I recognise that the next six months are crucial for the transformation of the Prison Service and I intend to make a series of announcements on various aspects of the reform programme including publishing details of a staff exit scheme.”
Mr McConnell said that his management team was “committed to delivering” the recommendations suggested by Dame Anne.
He added that the Prison Service was “well positioned” to deliver the reforms necessary.
Prisoner ombudsman Pauline McCabe said the report could not be viewed as a wish-list that could be cherry-picked.
“The prison system is complex and government agencies and departments from justice, to health and employment and learning need to sign up to the change programme,” she said.
“Action is also required to implement alternatives to prison for fine default, to replace short custodial sentences with community sentences and to reduce the time that prisoners are held on remand”.

Marian Price Maghaberry cell furnishings not luxury: Ford (BBC News NI)
Justice Minister David Ford has said the refurbishment of Marian Price’s cell in Maghaberry Prison was proportionate and “in no sense luxury”.
Last month it emerged over £2,250 has been spent refurbishing a unit in the prison – Glen House – for Price.
The total cost included a flat screen TV/DVD combination in her cell.
Mr Ford was asked by the DUP’s Paul Givan what impact on public confidence in the prison service news of the expenditure would have.
In a written answer Mr Ford said: “Given the unique circumstances of the custody of Mrs McGlinchey (nee Price) the governor (as part of his duty of care) was content that the refurbishment was necessary and proportionate and the furnishings were in no sense ‘luxury’.
“The expenditure was necessary to provide accommodation and a regime comparable to that available for female prisoners in Ash House at Hydebank Wood.”
He said the expenditure was authorised by the governor of Maghaberry and supported by the director general of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
Price, 57, has been charged with providing property, namely a mobile phone, for the purposes of terrorism.
The charge is linked to the murders of Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey at Massereene barracks in Antrim in March 2009.
Price’s cell was fitted out with a TV/DVD, a computer, curtains and a duvet set and a lamp, mat and cushions.
Among the items provided for the unit’s recreation room were another flat screen TV, with a digi box and DVD player, a coffee table, book case, pictures and a mat.
More money was spent on a picnic bench for the exercise yard, a summer seat and a total of 18 pots and planters containing flowers.
Mr Ford also revealed that 14 cells were currently unavailable for use by male prisoners in Maghaberry as a result of Price being the sole occupant of Glen House.
Price and her sister Dolours were jailed for their part in an IRA London bombing campaign in 1973 which included an attack at the Old Bailey.
The DUP previously described the money spent on her prison accommodation as “insulting”.