Maghaberry houses male and female prisoners

The oldest parts of Maghaberry jail near Lisburn in County Antrim were described in the inspection report as being "unsafe and unsatisfactory".

The details of last May's inspection by Anne Owers were published on Wednesday.

Although improvements have been made, the report says there is still some way to go before the prison fully meets expectations.

It carries about 170 recommendations and cites almost 40 examples of good practice. The last inspection of Maghaberry was in 1996.

Ms Owers also suggested that the diverse prison population at the jail could be better served by a number of smaller establishments or by several discrete establishments contained on a large site.

We found there had been significant movement, but there was some way to go before the prison fully met our expectations Anne Owers HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Plans to develop the Northern Ireland prison estate should recognise the need for different types of prison "to provide opportunities for progressive moves for all prisoners, in particular lifers, and for effective resettlement work with low-risk prisoners", the report said.

Ms Owers said: "We inspected Maghaberry, as we do every prison, under the four tests of a healthy prison: safety, respect, purposeful activity and resettlement.

"On all of those tests we found there had been significant movement, but there was some way to go before the prison fully met our expectations."

The director general of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Peter Russell, welcomed the report, which he said acknowledged the progress that had been achieved at Maghaberry while "taking a realistic view of challenges ahead".

"The report highlights both what we are doing well and where there is room for improvement," he said.

Magheraberry prison was opened 17 years ago at a cost of �40m.

It houses male and female prisoners, whether they are convicted or on remand.