HC Deb 03 July 1992 vol 210 cc716-7W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, following his reply on 30 June to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara),Official Report, column 475, if he will indicate the results of the charges made against those prisoners in Her Majesty's prison Maghaberry, female section, who were charged with (a) disobeying a lawful order, (b) offending against good order of the prison and (c) committing an assault, indicating how many of the prisoners were dealt with summarily, how many were legally represented and what were the punishments which were inflicted.

Mr. Mates

All 22 prisoners charged were adjudicated on by the governor in accordance with Prison Rules (NI) 1982. Twenty-one of these prisoners were found guilty as charged and were given awards as listed below. None was legally represented.

  1. (a) Twenty-one were found guilty of refusing to obey an order to undergo full search and awarded seven days' loss of remission, 14 days' loss of afternoon yards and 14 days' loss of evening association. Those prisoners on remand had loss of remission contingent upon conviction.
  2. (b) Seven prisoners were also found guilty of erecting barricades and were awarded 14 days' loss of remission consecutive to the seven days lost at (a) above with 28 days' loss of afternoon yards and 42 days' loss of evening association concurrent to (a). They were also awarded three days' cellular confinement.
  3. (c) Seven were further charged with assaulting staff. Six have their charges still to be heard. One was found guilty and awarded 14 days' loss of remission, consecutive to (a) above with 28 days' loss of evening association plus three days' cellular confinement.
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  5. Fifteen of the prisoners were granted judicial review of the governor's adjudications and 12 were granted interim relief in the High Court on 20 charges. The cases were heard on 12 June. but judgment has been reserved.