Latest news with #Maghaberry
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Significant increase' in inmates sees rise in cell sharing in NI prisons
Northern Ireland prisons have a "high density" of inmates, with cell sharing at Maghaberry jail on the increase in order to deal with space 40% (567) of prisoners at Maghaberry share cells, a practice referred to as comes as a new report for the Council of Europe (CoE), the human rights watchdog, notes a "significant increase" of prisoners in Northern is primarily driven by remanding people into custody before conviction or sentencing. Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said members of the Prison Service have contacted him recently to raise a number of claimed there are "rising tensions" at Maghaberry, partly due to "low staff levels".The Prison Service said newly trained officers have been deployed to the jail, with a further class of recruits set to join them in two weeks' Ireland's prisoner population currently stands at 2,139, which is up by more than 200 on a year largest prison, Maghaberry, has 1,470 inmates, 737 (50%) of whom are being held on remand. Last year, Maghaberry had to re-open a disused cell block to increase its CoE report describes Northern Ireland as having a "high prison density".But it did not define the situation as overcrowding - this is when there are more than 100 inmates per 100 on data for 2023-24, it said Northern Ireland had 86 prisoners per 100 places.A spokesperson for the Prison Service said: "Whilst challenging, the prison population in Northern Ireland has not yet exceeded available capacity, and we continue to prioritise safe, decent, and secure custody."The Prison Service is working with partners across the justice system to identify actions that can be taken to reduce the current population, with a particular focus on remand."Every day prison staff perform their challenging roles with dedication and professionalism."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Winston Irvine 'unduly lenient' sentence to be appealed
The sentence given to Winston Irvine was unduly lenient and should be extended, according to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Irvine, 49, from Ballysillan Road in north Belfast, was given a two-and-a-half year sentence last month after admitting to firearm and ammunition offences. The sentence was half the minimum recommended term, with the judge citing "exceptional circumstances". The PPS said it will now appeal the sentence. Irvine's sentence – half of which is to be served on licence – was below the minimum sentence of five years and attracted criticism from some politicians. A spokesperson for the PPS told the BBC's The Nolan Show: "After careful consideration of the sentence handed down in the case of Winston Irvine, including with the benefit of advices from independent Senior Counsel, we have determined that there is a sufficient legal basis to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal." The PPS referral has now been lodged with the Court of Appeal. Irvine is currently serving his sentence on the segregated UVF wing at Maghaberry high security prison. During sentencing Judge Gordon Kerr KC said despite Irvine's guilty plea, he had declined to give any explanation to the police or the court for having the guns and bullets in the boot of his car. However, the judge said he did not consider the crimes to be connected to terrorism. The judge cited Irvine's "character and long-term commitment to peace building in Northern Ireland" among exceptional circumstances relating to the case. The court was told he had worked at the highest levels of government and had "devoted most of his adult life to peace". Court documents released to The Nolan Show revealed the extent of the character references provided to the court. They include letters from Loyalist Communities Council chair David Campbell, former Policing Board member and director of Northern Ireland Alternatives Deborah Watters, Gary Mason a Methodist Minister, as well as Dr Harold Good . The PPS said it would not be appealing the five year jail term handed to co-accused Robin Workman. Winston Irvine pleads guilty to firearms offences Winston Irvine sentence is 'too lenient', says first minister Winston Irvine to stand trial over gun charges
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Winston Irvine 'unduly lenient' sentence to be appealed
The sentence given to Winston Irvine was unduly lenient and should be extended, according to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).Irvine, 49, from Ballysillan Road in north Belfast, was given a two-and-a-half year sentence last month after admitting to firearm and ammunition sentence was half the minimum recommended term, with the judge citing "exceptional circumstances".The PPS said it will now appeal the sentence. Irvine's sentence – half of which is to be served on licence – was below the minimum sentence of five years and attracted criticism from some politicians.A spokesperson for the PPS told the BBC's The Nolan Show: "After careful consideration of the sentence handed down in the case of Winston Irvine, including with the benefit of advices from independent Senior Counsel, we have determined that there is a sufficient legal basis to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal."The PPS referral has now been lodged with the Court of Appeal. Irvine is currently serving his sentence on the segregated UVF wing at Maghaberry high security sentencing Judge Gordon Kerr KC said despite Irvine's guilty plea, he had declined to give any explanation to the police or the court for having the guns and bullets in the boot of his the judge said he did not consider the crimes to be connected to judge cited Irvine's "character and long-term commitment to peace building in Northern Ireland" among exceptional circumstances relating to the court was told he had worked at the highest levels of government and had "devoted most of his adult life to peace".Court documents released to The Nolan Show revealed the extent of the character references provided to the include letters from Loyalist Communities Council chair David Campbell, former Policing Board member and director of Northern Ireland Alternatives Deborah Watters, Gary Mason a Methodist Minister, as well as Dr Harold Good .The PPS said it would not be appealing the five year jail term handed to co-accused Robin Workman.
