Press Release

KRW LAW LLP represent a number of sentenced and remand prisoners detained at HMP Maghaberry.

 

A recently published report of an unannounced inspection of HMP Maghaberry by the Criminal Justice Inspection of Northern Ireland (CJINI) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) noted that:

 

“Work to support men who were vulnerable to self-harm had moved on, but less so than in other aspects of safety. At the time of this inspection there had been five self-inflicted deaths in custody since the last full inspection in January 2016, and the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland had raised some serious concerns.”

 

And

 

“In our survey, 66% of prisoners said they had a mental health problem, but only 24% said they had been helped.”

 

“A total of 18 patients had transferred to mental health facilities under the Mental Health Order in the 15 months to March 2018; 16 of these had waited more than the recommended two weeks and eight had waited one to five months, which was excessive. Delays were primarily caused by external factors, including bed availability.”

 

Whilst we understand the fiscal pressures on the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS), mental health service provision throughout the Northern Ireland prison estate is a serious cause for concern.

 

KRE LAW LLP is considering a potential legal challenge in respect of the failure to provide adequate mental health service provision to vulnerable prisoners in violation of both human rights and humanitarian standards.