Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA has called on Justice Minister David Ford and Sue McAllister – the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service - to ensure they give their unequivocal support and resources to Prison Staff to regain full control at Maghaberry Prison, and help them retain that control.

Mr Elliott said:

“The campaign by republican prisoners to cause disruption and attempt to gain control of the landings must not be allowed in any circumstances.

“They are seeking to replicate an old tactic of the IRA, to run the prisons on their terms and the issuing of threats to Prison Officers is part of their campaign. The IRA tactic of murdering Prison Officers has also been revived with the brutal murder of David Black in November 2012.

“They claim that they are protesting against regressive structural changes and free movements within republican wings at Roe House but we must never forget that many of these terrorists have carried out some of the most heinous crimes and should not be offered any privileges or concessions.

“I have in the past been critical of the Prison Management, for doing a deal with these prisoners to give them certain privileges. What makes it even more concerning is that a deal was done with prisoners, without consultation with those prison officers on the front line. It is the officers who have to deal day and daily with the prisoners and implement arrangements that may prove almost impossible to carry out whilst maintaining adequate security within the prison.

“It is time that Prison Service management and the rest of the do-gooders remember that prisons are there to punish criminals in addition to their rehabilitation. As yesterday’s events proved, at Maghaberry there is a real danger of prisoners being given so much freedom they are able to control the prison area that they are living in.

“This is totally unacceptable and evidence that Prison Service Management have failed to learn the lessons of the past.”