Annual commemoration to remember sacrifice of NI Prison Service personnel

The 32 NI Prison Service (NIPS) personnel murdered by terrorists since 1942 were commemorated during a small service of remembrance at Hydebank Wood in Belfast on Friday.
By Mark Rainey
Published 6th Nov 2020, 15:34 BST
Justice Minister Naomi Long laying a wreath at the NI Prison Service (NIPS) Memorial Service to remember officers who lost their lives in the course of duty. Picture: Michael CooperJustice Minister Naomi Long laying a wreath at the NI Prison Service (NIPS) Memorial Service to remember officers who lost their lives in the course of duty. Picture: Michael Cooper
Justice Minister Naomi Long laying a wreath at the NI Prison Service (NIPS) Memorial Service to remember officers who lost their lives in the course of duty. Picture: Michael Cooper

Among those laying wreaths were Justice Minister Naomi Long and NIPS director general Ronnie Armour.

The first name on the memorial stone at Hydebank is Officer R Walker (1942) and the last Senior Officer Adrian Ismay who was murdered in March 2016. Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the bereaved widows and the Prison Officers’ Association.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mrs Long said: “The annual memorial service is an important event in the Prison Service calendar. It is a time to remember all Prison Service staff killed while serving the community. It is a time to reflect on the contribution they made, and also a time to remember their families. Sadly the widows and close relatives of Prison Service staff who lost their lives in the line of duty are unable to attend today, but it is important we remember them all. They carry their great suffering, pain and loss with dignity.”