Peace hopes rise in prisons row
Hopes rose today of an end to a bitter dispute which has plunged Northern Ireland’s jail system into turmoil in a row over security breaches.
Prison Officers Association leaders met Ulster Security Minister Jane Kennedy at Stormont and afterwards both side said the discussions had been “very useful”.
Finlay Spratt, the POA chief, said the minister had gone away to consider a number of matters they had put to her and a meeting with Prison Service management was planned.
After more than an hour of talks with Ms Kennedy, Mr Spratt, in more upbeat mood than after other talks in recent weeks, said: “Hopefully we will get the matter resolved.”
Staff who fear for their safety after their details were found on computer disks seized during anti-IRA spying raids have already staged two walk-outs in protest at the personal protection packages on offer.
Union chiefs have warned more action was certain unless low-grade home security was offered to warders whose names were not on the files recovered two months ago.
Mr Spratt told Ms Kennedy during today’s meeting that as little as £70,000 (€110,000) could end the row.
Safety schemes worth more than £20m (€31.4m) have already been made available to the 1,426 prison officers believed to be at risk following the disclosure.
But Mr Spratt insisted that about 200 staff whose families were put through weeks of anxiety before learning they were not on the list still needed minimum security.
He claimed the package of home lighting and alarms cost £700 (€1,100) to install and only half would request it.
He said: “The Prison Service is being thrown into chaos all for the sake of £70,000 (€110,000).
“That’s peanuts compared to what they are prepared to spend on officers whose names are on the list.
“If they agreed to this then I believe we solve all our difficulties.”
