Political interference wrecked Maghaberry prison deal

Posted by Jim on November 5, 2016

Amid fresh protests over abuses at Maghaberry Prison, a key mediator in
an agreement struck in 2010 to ease tensions at the jail has admitted
the deal collapsed as a result of unionist political pressure.

One of the deal-brokers said former Justice Minister David Ford failed
to enforce a deal to limit controversial measures such as prisoner
strip-searches, because he was under obligation to the DUP.

“I do believe there is interference in the sense, in our view, the then
Minister of Justice was probably beholden to the likes of the DUP for
his position as Minister for Justice and I think that probably resulted
in him lacking the resolve to tackle this matter head-on,” mediator and
trade unionist Peter Bunting, has said.

He was speaking to a parliamentary committee in Dublin on the
implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It was told available
technology had done away with the need for invasive body searches, one
of the more controversial issues at the jail, but the agreement to end
them was abandoned.

Strip searches remain part of everyday life in the jail. Prisoners are
also isolated for extended periods – with one prisoner being locked up
23 hours a day for five years – and denied education. Mr Bunting said
strip-searching was being used as a “tool to suppress people” in the
Roe House wing of the prison, where republican political risoners are
housed.

David Ford, who was replaced as Justice Minister earlier this year, has
denied acting on behalf of the DUP in the role. Mr Bunting and another
mediator met with Mr Ford’s successor Claire Sugden in May, and were
assured a speedy review on the agreement’s implementation, but he said
they have heard nothing back since then.

“There is both a sectarian attitude and there is political interference
towards these people,” he said.

Senator Frank Feighan, who sits on the committee and who visited the
prison, said he was concerned over political interference with the
minister for justice. “If that was happening down here it would be a
serious national scandal,” he said.

The Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association welcomed the
insights.

“Despite Republican Prisoners doing everything in their power to ensure
the terms of the agreement were met, when it was quickly reneged upon
by the Maghaberry administration, Ford insisted the blame lay with the
Republican Prisoners,” they said.

“When he was asked to provide evidence of how the Republican Prisoners
had reneged on the agreement, he had the audacity to claim threats
against staff on social media had resulted in him drawing the
conclusion that Republican Prisoners had reneged on the agreement.

The IRPWA also expressed concerned that despite an initial meeting with
the new British Minister for Justice, they have yet to hear a word back
from her after six months.