Prison plans panned

UUC Councillor Leslie Cubitt says proposals to attach a room with a toilet, shower and wash basin in each of the cells at the 800 place re-developed jail would be a "waste of money" and would provide better facilities than those open to elderly care patients in the Borough.

"It's like a holiday camp," Councillor Cubitt told the Sentinel, "They already have enough luxuries in there as it is, from televisions to computers. Now prisoners in Magilligan jail could have better facilities than some of the elderly care homes in Limavady. It's a disgrace."

Councillor Cubitt's comments came after the Director of the Northern Ireland Prison Service called the Limavady Borough jail's inmate sanitation system "inhumane and unacceptable" at a recent Northern Ireland Affairs Committee discussion on the devolution of policing and justice. Robin Masefield was describing how over 300 prisoners at Magilligan were still 'slopping-out' inside the prison and touched on sanitation plans for the 200 million re-development of the jail.

Councillor Cubitt continued: "When you go to jail it's meant to be punishment. We don't spend half as much on the care of elderly people in the borough who are dependent on carers for adequate food, heating and other vital services."

"Magilligan prison may need to upgrade their sanitation system but attaching an en-suite onto an inmate's cell that you would get in a hotel is ridiculous."

Councillor Cubitt continued: "I would like to see the money being spent on improving exactly what prisoners are supposed to be doing in there; giving back to society. Even re-educating inmates on drugs and stopping the flow of drugs in the prison would be beneficial."

Speaking on the progress of the new multi-million redeveloped jail on January 26 at Stormont, Robin Masefield told members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee:

"I am delighted to report steady progress on the Magilligan project for the redevelopment. We have an excellent business case team in place and design team in place that consists of both Northern Ireland architectural expertise and professionals who have been involved in prison building in England, Wales and Scotland."

He told committee members that hopes for completing the new prison in one phase "albeit sequenced" were high but it did mean that until completion 300 of Magilligan's prisoners would continue "slopping out".

"I still regard it as fundamentally unacceptable and inhumane in this day and age that we still have slopping out for 300 prisoners at Magilligan."

Speaking on Magilligan's current lavatory facilities a NI prison service spokesman said Mr Masefield's comments were "the settled view" of the prison service. He added that plans to include a shower as well as a toilet and wash basin attached onto a cell were at the design stage "subject to approval being given, which will also depend on funding levels."

The spokesman said: "Magilligan Prison, the oldest prison establishment in use in Northern Ireland, does not have sanitation in cell in each of its three 'H' Blocks. However an electronic unlock system is operational, which means that a prisoner wishing to use the lavatory facilities, presses a buzzer in his cell and his door is electronically unlocked by an officer. Prisoners in the remainder of accommodation blocks at Magilligan Prison have direct access to toilet facilities outside their dormitory or rooms."

"The Prison Service has recognised the need for Magilligan Prison to be re-built and in December 2007 Prisons' Minister Paul Goggins announced that a replacement prison would be built on-site. Preparations are well underway. Appointments to the Magilligan Project Team have been completed and the business case for a new 800 place male prison is being prepared. In cell sanitation will be provided throughout the new prison."

"The Minister also announced in December 2007 that over 100 new prison places would be made available in Magilligan during 2008. A new Alpha Unit containing 50 cells was opened at the end of September, while in November 2008, Halward House, a new 60 cell accommodation unit was opened. All 110 cells have full in-cell sanitation. "