Annex A
MURPHY ANNOUNCES PANEL TO REVIEW SAFETY AT
MAGHABERRY
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,
Paul Murphy MP, today announced a consultation on safety of staff
and prisoners within Maghaberry Prison. The review, to be led
by John Steele, former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service,
assisted by Father Kevin Donaghy, former chaplain at the Maze
Prison and Canon Barry Dodds, former chaplain at the Crumlin Road
Prison, will consider, in consultation with prison management,
staff, their unions, prisoners and other interested groups, the
options for improving conditions, particularly as they relate
to safety, for all prisoners and staff.
The Secretary of State said:
"Concern has been expressed about the
current situation at Maghaberry. The safety and conditions of
all who live and work within the prison is of paramount importance
to me and to everyone in the Prison Service.
"I very much hope that staff and prisoners
alike will take full advantage of the opportunity presented by
this consultation to share their thinking on what steps can be
taken to enhance confidence in the safety and well-being of everyone
in the prison. I am looking forward to seeing the recommendations
that the review team make which will, I know will be creative
and forward thinking. I am confident they will improve the safety
of those who live and work at Maghaberry and increase the confidence
of their families that their safety is being properly managed."
Notes for editors:
John Steele retired from the Northern Ireland
Office in 1998. He was head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service
from 1987 to 1992.
Father Kevin Donaghy was the chaplain at the
Maze Prison from 1992 until its closure in 2000. He is now Principal
of St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh.
Canon Barry Dodds is now at St Michael's Parish
Church (Lower Shankill), but was chaplain at Belfast Prison from
1984 to 1996.
The terms of reference of the review are: "To
consider, in consultation with prison management, staff, their
unions, prisoners and other interested groups and taking account
of relevant practice in other jurisdictions, the options for improving
conditions at Maghaberry Prison, particularly as they relate to
safety, for all prisoners and staff, remembering the Prison Service's
statutory obligations as set out at s.75 of the Northern Ireland
Act 1998, and bearing in mind the lessons of the past and the
new environment created by the Good Friday Agreement, and to make
recommendations to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland."
5 August 2003
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