Conditions in Maghaberry Jail

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday April 13, 2002 07:47 by Reader of Saoirse

Introduction of sniffer dogs; increased harassment

The use of sniffer dogs has been introduced into the jail. Sniffer dogs, controlled by prisons officers that make up the 'search team' are now being used to assess visitors. Before the visit can take place the visitor has to go through the humiliating experience of being 'sniffed' for drugs by what we are told is a specially trained dog.

The use of sniffer dogs has been introduced into the jail. Sniffer dogs,
controlled by prisons officers that make up the 'search team' are now being
used to assess visitors. Before the visit can take place the visitor has to go
through the humiliating experience of being 'sniffed' for drugs by what we are
told is a specially trained dog.

The type of training given to the dog is open to question. Several visitors
have reported seeing the warden (dog handler) tug twice on the chain holding
the dog and the dog immediately sits down beside the visitor being 'sniffed'.
This in effect means that the prison officer decides who gets a visit and who
does not. Once the dog sits down the visitor is given the option of a screened
(closed) visit or no visit. The screened visit, as the word implies, consists
of a full glass partition between the prisoner and his visitor.

Another new 'rule' in relation to visits is that now the prisoner has to give a
list to the prison authorities of ten people, their names, addresses and phone
number, who will be visiting that prisoner. These details will be kept on
computer file and they are the only people that can visit the prisoner. Keeping
such details on file in a jail that is staffed almost exclusively by loyalist
prison officers is a serious security risk to prisoners and their families.
Details, and photographs, of Tommy Crossan's wife and family are already in the
hands of the UDA. Such details could only have come from the so-called security
forces. (The RUC informed Ann Crossan that 'men had been arrested near her home
with her and her families personal details and photos on them. No prosecution
has followed to the best of Ann's knowledge.) Any up-to-date information stored
in the computer in the jail is therefore open to being used by 'rogue' prison
officers. Prior to this new ruling Tommy sent out a visiting pass to those
wishing to visit him and the visitor produced photographic ID at the gate.

All this is now added to the ongoing hassle experienced by Tommy on a daily
basis. Tommy will not conform to the criminalisation policy being pursued by
the prison authorities against him. He is the only POW in jail in the Six
Counties who is fighting for political status denied him by the signing of the
Stormont Agreement - of which his former comrades, the Provos, are part and
parcel.

Regarding thumbprint ID. As thumbprint ID is in use in Magilligan Prison in
Derry it is only a matter of time before it will be in force in Maghaberry.
Thumbprint ID is supposed to be used only once and then wiped off the computer.
This however is not the case as a solicitor on a visit to a client in
Magilligan found out. Weeks later when she returned to the jail her thumbprint
was still on file - despite assurances from the authorities that it would not
be retained. This too poses a serious security risk for prisoners.

Such thumbprints can be lifted and planted, used against people to convict them
for so-called offences they have not committed.

Tommy Crossan has stood alone for the last four years in Maghaberry prison
fighting for political status. Today (and every day until he is released) he
continues that fight. It is up to every Republican and right thinking person to
back him in this fight. Once the British are allowed to criminalise Republican
POWs there will be no going back. Tommy Crossan is no criminal - no matter that
those who gained paid positions of power in a British Assembly on the backs of
the hunger strikers think otherwise. Tommy Crossan is a POW and it is up to all
of us to see that he is recognised as such.