Locking up at Maghaberry prison

Jane Kennedy was responding to criticism made by prison officers' representatives that a meeting they held with her on Thursday was a "complete and utter wasted exercise".

Prison Officers Association leader Finlay Spratt said he was "angry and disappointed" that Ms Kennedy had not offered extra money to upgrade security at prison officers' homes following a series of attacks.

"I believed we were going to get some constructive dialogue, but the minister has turned us down flat," Mr Spratt said.

Mr Spratt and the POA's national chairman Colin Moses met the minister on Thursday following attacks on the homes of prison officers and former prison officers in Northern Ireland.

Mr Moses, who travelled from England to attend the meeting said he had expected that there would be resolution to the dispute. He said he was "frustrated and disappointed" at the minister's attitude.

In response, Ms Kennedy said that security measures for prison officers were equal to the threat being posed.

"We provide exactly the same security measures to police officers, members of district policing partnerships, MPs and so on, all based upon expert advice given to the officials operating these schemes," she said.

"It is all based upon an assessment of the risk, which is made by police."

Prison officers had threatened to take industrial action following attacks on five members of staff at the high security Maghaberry prison outside Lisburn, County Antrim, last month.

They also said they would refuse to work overtime in an effort to strengthen their demand for increased security measures at their homes.

However, they received a letter from Ms Kennedy saying legal action would be taken if they broke the law by taking industrial action, planned for Wednesday.

That letter was withdrawn and the threatened action was called off to allow talks to take place.

The attacks on homes of serving and former prison officers have been linked to a prisoners' dispute at the jail.

Further disturbances

Earlier this week, prison officers in England, Scotland and Wales, said they would take the appropriate action if their colleagues in Northern Ireland were disciplined for taking industrial action.

Meanwhile, visits to part of Maghaberry prison were cancelled for a second day on Thursday after 55 cells were damaged during overnight disturbances.

Several small fires were started and the ground floor of Foyle House was flooded.

Visits were cancelled in part of the jail

Violence lasting throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning had caused major flooding in Foyle House after prisoners pulled sinks and toilets off the walls.

Sixteen cells were badly damaged.

According to prison sources, many of the inmates involved were affiliated to dissident republican groups.

The Northern Ireland Office said the disturbances began at about 2000 GMT on Tuesday when a snooker table was set alight.

When prisoners were locked up, they began damaging their cells, pulling out toilets and sinks. It was also claimed mattresses were set alight.

No prison officers were injured during the trouble.

In September, a review of safety at Maghaberry recommended separating republican and loyalist prisoners.

The move was being introduced in the wake of violent clashes between rival groups in the jail and in the face of a "dirty protest" by a group of dissident republican prisoners.

As well as paramilitary prisoners, Maghaberry houses male and female prisoners, whether they are convicted or on remand, and a number of asylum seekers.