Locking up at Maghaberry prison

Prison Officers Association leader Finlay Spratt said he would consult with members on Friday.

Mr Spratt described a meeting with NIO Security Minister Jane Kennedy on Thursday as a "complete and utter wasted exercise".

Industrial action was threatened following attacks last month on five members of staff at the high security Maghaberry prison outside Lisburn, County Antrim, which have been linked to a prisoners' dispute at the jail.

The prison officers 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That letter was withdrawn and the threatened action was called off to allow the minister to meet with Mr Spratt and the POA's national chairman Colin Moses on Thursday.

'Disappointed'

Mr Spratt said after the talks that he was "angry and disappointed" that Ms Kennedy had not offered extra money to upgrade security at prison officers' homes.

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."

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.