PRISON officers are to stage a rally at Stormont next Monday to protest against plans to shut Magilligan jail.
Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers Association in Northern Ireland said senior members of the national executive committee in London would also be attending.
A petition is to be handed over to the Justice Minister David Ford.
Magilligan, which opened in May 1972 on the site of a former army base, is due to close in 2018 and be replaced with a new medium security prison nearer Belfast. Land close to the top security Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim is believed to be one option being considered as a site.
There are about 350 prison officers based at Magilligan which houses an estimated 500 low to medium risk male prisoners, the majority of whom have less than six years to serve.
Closure will have a major financial impact on the nearest town, Limavady.
Mr Spratt said: “We believe Magilligan has played a valuable role in the penal and justice system. Shutting is part of a long term plan by the authorities to have the prison system here privatised.”
Comments