Prisoners help to revamp centre

As part of a rehabilitation programme at HMP Maghaberry Prison, a group of inmates set to work on a bespoke project for Castle Espie Wetland Centre. Their challenge, which they enthusiastically accepted, was to build an apple cart just like the cart represented in the prominent Molly Malone Statue found in Dublin City Centre.

Paul Stewart, Centre Manager at Castle Espie Wetland Centre said: “At the back of the Sensory Garden at Castle Espie we have an apple orchard bursting with traditional heritage apple varieties.

“Now that we are open to the public again, we plan to sell some native Irish apple varieties and we thought a Molly Malone style cart would be the perfect way to display the young trees. As an environmental charity we are largely dependent on donations and volunteers so we were delighted when HMP Maghaberry offered to team up with us on this special project.”

David Savage, Deputy Governor at Maghaberry said: “We are delighted to support local facilities, such as the Castle Espie Wetland Centre. The apple cart was crafted by men who are in the care of the prison under the tutelage of staff from Maghaberry Prison and the Belfast Metropolitan College. This initiative demonstrates that there are extensive rehabilitation opportunities being offered to the men in our care.”