Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs Written Evidence


Annex B

Officer C

15 November 2003

VISITOR MR GALLAGHER

  I was detailed Senior Officer in visits on Saturday 15 November 2003. A visitor Mr Francis Gallagher was observed on camera making notes whilst on a visit to B9136 Shoukri. I was instructed by Officer E to ask for these notes when the visit expired. At 12.55 hours I informed Mr Gallagher that it Was not permitted to make notes on visits and I requested the notes from him. Mr Gallagher refused. Officer E and Officer F again explained Standing Orders 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 pertaining to notes. Mr Gallagher asked to speak with the Governor, which was granted. Governor D viewed the correspondence and agreed to Mr Gallagher removing them from the prison. Governor D informed Mr Gallagher of Standing Orders 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 and informed him that if he wanted to take notes on visits in future he should seek written permission from the Governor prior to the visit taking place. Mr Gallagher left the visits complex at 1307 hours.

Governor D

19 December 2003

MR FRANCIS GALLAGHER

  I was Duty Governor on Saturday 15 November 2003. Governor B accompanied me for the tour of duty. At 1235 hours approximately I was in my office, awaiting the return of the Prison Roll, when I received a telephone call from the Security Department Senior Officer. I was informed that a visitor had been observed taking notes during a visit and had refused to show the notes to staff.

  At 1240 hours I arrived at visits and was met by the Security Department Senior Officer. He gave me a short briefing and a photocopy of the relevant Standing Order relating to visits. He identified the visitor as Mr Frankie Gallagher, a member of the UPRG.

  I introduced myself to Mr Gallagher and explained to him that it was not permitted for ordinary visitors to take notes during visits. I read the relevant Standing Order to him and gave it to him to read.

  Mr Gallagher explained that he was unaware of the Order and that if he had known he would have fully complied with it. He informed me that he had entered Visits with a sheet of paper and pen in his pocket and that the searching officer had not removed them from him.

  I asked him to show me the paper, which he handed over, along with his pencil. He turned out his pockets to show that he had no other writing material.

  I inspected the sheet of paper, which was folded on two. To the best of my recollection it contained information of the number of unoccupied cells, the numbers of staff per landing and brief details of the wing regime. There were no names of staff or any names of prisoners.

  Having decided that there was no need to confiscate the paper and pen I returned them to Mr Gallagher. I informed him that this must not happen again and that if he had a need to take notes he should refer the mater to Mr Peter Leonard so that his status as a visitor could be clarified. The discussion was amicable. Mr Gallagher was then escorted from the premises.



 
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