The Five Demands

Maghaberry powder keg threatening to explode: Dissident republican campaign to wrest control of prison wing (Belfast Telegraph)

Campaign by dissident inmates to wrest control of prison wing ‘has left warders fearing for their lives’

Senior security sources have warned tensions are threatening to boil over among dissident republicans at Northern Ireland’s high-security prison.

There are fears over the situation at Maghaberry in Co Antrim amid claims the prison authorities are at risk of losing control of the dissident wing in Roe House.

An influx of republican suspects and convicted terrorists is said to be putting staff under huge strain.

The chair of Stormont’s justice committee told the Belfast Telegraph the situation was at “breaking point” and warned he feared the lives of prison staff were at risk.

And the head of the Prison Officers’ Association said the service was under severe pressure, with sick levels due to stress soaring.

“There’s no doubt there’s tension within Roe House as a result of the ongoing campaign by dissident republicans,” Paul Givan, head of the justice committee, said.

“It’s the numbers and the type of republican being detained who are very much trying to pressurise and force the issue of their demands and get more control.

“There are significant personnel forcing the issue who have been there, served their time, and are back in. So the pressure has increased since some of those senior republicans returned to Roe House.

“There’s no doubt they are trying to get more control over their particular landings and that’s something which causes the prison officers concern over their own safety.

“There’s already a view within those officers that there’s already too much control.” There are 50 separated republican prisoners currently detained at Roe House within Maghaberry – including high-profile terror suspects Colin Duffy and Thomas Mellon.

A Department of Justice spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on operational matters such as the relationship between staff and prisoners.”

DUP MLA Mr Givan urged Justice Minister David Ford to scrap an agreement struck with republican prisoners in August 2010.

Some prisoners went on a dirty protest in 2012, claiming that the prison authorities reneged on a deal brokered at that time to end a policy of routine full body searches, replacing it with electronic scanners.

The prisoners claimed the deal was that they would be searched using a BOSS (body orifice security scanner) chair.

Prison authorities said the agreement was for internal movement within the prison only, not when prisoners left and re-entered their wings for domestic and legal visits or trips to court.

Tensions over the same issues have ratcheted up in recent weeks, it is claimed.

“Prison officers are still under threat, that is a real threat which is there,” said Mr Givan. “Ultimately, the fear is that people’s lives could be lost as a result.

“David Black lost his life recently over what is going on at Maghaberry and there is a fear you could be facing another incident because of this campaign.”

So concerned by the situation, Sinn Fein sent a delegation to Maghaberry last month headed up by MLA Raymond McCartney, a former IRA prisoner and hunger striker.

Afterwards, the party said it “raised our concerns over controlled movement, visits and how these have a negative impact on a regime which should be based on dignity and respect”.

But a statement issued on behalf of dissident republicans inmates of Maghaberry’s Roe 4 was scathing of Sinn Fein.

They said it was “a pathetic and sorry rejection of just how far these people have gone in propping up both the prison regime and the unionist stalemate we once resisted together”.

The group added: “Prisoners will resist all attempts to criminalise us whether through controlled movement, strip-searching or isolation.”

A protest on behalf of republican prisoners is due to take place on the Falls Road this Saturday.

Father-of-two Mr Black was murdered on the M1 in 2012 as he drove from his Cookstown home to Maghaberry.

Earlier this year letter-bombs were sent to named members of staff at the jail.

Prison Officers’ Association head Finlay Spratt claimed staffing levels at prisons meant one warden can often be tasked with overseeing 25 prisoners.

“We are seeing one member of staff over 25 or two over 50 prisoners,” he said. “It used to be eight to 50 prisoners. It’s ridiculous.”