Investigations & Analysis - Northern Ireland

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Prisons

James McDonnell died in Maghaberry prison in March 1996

Prison death family: "The truth has finally come out"

17 MAY 2013

BY NIALL MCCRACKEN

THE family of a man who died of a heart attack after being restrained by prison wardens over 17 years ago has spoken for the first time about their long struggle for justice.

James Carlisle McDonnell (36) from Antrim died in Maghaberry Prison in March 1996 shortly after an incident with officers in which he was grabbed by the neck.

During an inquest hearing on Thursday (May 17) a jury found that the neck injury suffered by Mr McDonnell during the altercation led to stress that contributed to his fatal heart attack later that day.

Maghaberry Prison

Mother claims brain damaged son failed by prison service

01 MAY 2013

Near death in custody report

Figures show that 57 prisoners have been transferred out for mental health treatment since March 2010

What's being done for prisoners with mental health issues in NI?

05 APRIL 2013

NEW figures show that more people than ever before are being transferred out of prison for mental health treatment but crucial information about the nature of those illnesses - and the ramifications for the wider prison population - is not collated.

Over £22m has been spent on prison healthcare over the last three years

Making sense of the prison healthcare spend

05 APRIL 2013

THERE has been over £22m spent on prison healthcare here over the last three years. However, it has taken the South Eastern Trust over two months and two separate FOI requests, to release a full breakdown of the costings.

Hydebank Wood Prison houses some of NI's most vulnerable prisoners

Surge in self-harming at Hydebank Wood

17 DECEMBER 2012

MORE than 40 medical emergency alerts, including five further suicide attempts and numerous instances of self-harm, have been recorded at Hydebank Wood prison since the suicide of two inmates in May of last year.

Front Page Frances McKeown

Another failure by a system "not fit for purpose"

28 NOVEMBER 2012

THE husband of a woman who took her own life in Hydebank Wood has raised serious questions about whether the Northern Ireland prison system has the ability to deal with inmates with complex mental health issues.

Hydebank Wood Prison

Victimised after witnessing prison officer kissing female inmate

28 NOVEMBER 2012

THE latest Prisoner Ombudsman report into the death of Frances McKeown explores allegations that she was bullied in the months leading up to her death after seeing a male prison officer kissing a female inmate – and was then blamed for reporting it.

16 claims have been brought against the prison service by female inmates

Claims against prison service include one alleged "sexual" incident

28 NOVEMBER 2012

SIXTEEN claims have been brought against the Northern Ireland Prison Service by female inmates since 2004, including one alleging an incident of “a sexual nature”, according to figures obtained by The Detail earlier this year.

Sylvia front page

“I don’t want this to happen to another mother's child”

20 NOVEMBER 2012

EIGHTEEN months after her son died in Hydebank as a result of bullying which went unchallenged by prison management, Sylvia Carson is still waiting for some form of apology.

Samuel Carson with his nine month old daughter Summer

A catalogue of neglect – but no-one is held to account for the death of Samuel Carson

20 NOVEMBER 2012

THE Prison Service failings which preceded the suicide of Samuel Carson in Hydebank Wood were among the worst the Prisoner Ombudsman says she has ever seen - but no-one has been disciplined.

Maghaberry is Northern Ireland's largest prison

Gaps in care of vulnerable Maghaberry prisoners

17 NOVEMBER 2012

GAPS still exist in the care of vulnerable prisoners at Maghaberry Prison according to a new report from the Criminal Justice Inspectorate.

Prisoner Assessment Unit

"Lifers" not prepared for release as numbers rise

29 AUGUST 2012

THE number of life sentence prisoners being released in Northern Ireland could reach a record high,as there are fears that the system to re-integrate them back into society is in disarray.

Solitary confinement front page photo

29 JULY 2012

Figures obtained by The Detail reveal a huge surge in the use of solitary confinement against young prisoners at Hydebank since 2008 while in contrast its use as a punishment has been dramatically scaled back at Northern Ireland’s main adult prison at Mag

A warder checks on an inmate at Hydebank prison

The teenager for whom solitary is the norm

29 JULY 2012

A was just 14 years of age when he was charged with attempted robbery and threats to kill in June 2009. However A’s father has now spoken for the first time to complain that his son is being turned into a “caged animal” inside Hydebank prison having been

Northern Ireland Prison Service director Sue McAllister

Use of solitary "not cavalier": new prisons director

29 JULY 2012

Northern Ireland Prison Service director Sue McAllister has pledged to investigate new figures which show an alrming rise in the use of solitary confinment punishment against inmates at Hydebank Prison.

Hydebank

Hydebank enquiry to focus on handling of alleged inappropriate behaviour

15 MAY 2012 – NIALL MCCRACKEN

Prison governor suspended because alleged incidents not properly investigated

Frances McKeown and Samuel Carson

Suicides in prison: Ombudsman and families speak out

19 JUNE 2011 – BARRY MCCAFFREY

Hydebank Suicides