Prisoners (Segregation) (Hansard, 13 January 1977)

§ 17. Mr. Carson
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now consider the segregation of Loyalist and Republican prisoners as a result of the recent disturbances in the Crumlin Road Prison; and how many prisoners and wardens suffered injury in the disturbances.

§ Mr. Concannon
No. In the recent incidents in Her Majesty's Prison, Belfast, which may well have been stage-managed, three prison officers sustained significant injuries, one being detained in hospital. No prisoner suffered more than minor abrasions or bruising, and none required hospital treatment.

§ Mr. Carson
Will the Minister confirm that recently poison was found near a male prisoner's cell, and that certain drinks were taken away for analysis? Is he aware that it is impossible to have integration in Northern Ireland in education, housing, social life, and, indeed, at places of employment? Does he agree that it is impossible, too, to have integration in prisons which house violent men convicted of very serious crimes and men on remand charged with very serious crimes?

§ Mr. Concannon
Segregation in the prison at Belfast took place only in 1972. We are ending that. The prisoners should realise that it is in their own interests, and for their own safety whilst they are in prison, that they observe prison rules and refrain from violence to other prisoners and to my staff.
I have no comments to make on the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary questions. This incident has not been brought to my attention.

§ Mr. Powell
Does the hon. Member recognise that while my colleagues and I have steadily supported the abolition of "special category" the Secretary of State retains responsibility for the personal safety and welfare of persons confined in Her Majesty's prisons, whatever methods he finds necessary to secure that safety?

§ Mr. Concannon
I agree. This is what is happening. This is why I have to report today that the prison service and I believe that these incidents were pretty 1636 well stage-managed, judging by the size of the bruises and other injuries. My prison staff are doing all that can be expected of them. Three of them were injured in these disturbances. Two are still off sick.