HMP Maghaberry lessons learned
Many of the problems of HMP Maze in 1997 arose from the fact that by then it was the sole prison in Northern Ireland holding the most dangerous terrorist prisoners. We are aware that HMP Maghaberry is currently the sole maximum security prison in Northern Ireland. We recommend that the SOSNI and those with recently devolved authority should satisfy themselves that any relevant lessons from HMP Maze have been learned for HMP Maghaberry.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedSecretary of State Owen Paterson stated on 14 September 2010 that he would discuss all three recommendations with Justice Minister David Ford, as prisons had become a devolved matter. Some operational lessons from HMP Maze were applied at HMP Maghaberry, including the separated housing regime under the Steele Review (2003). However, the systemic management failures identified at the Maze were substantially replicated at Maghaberry. A 2015 unannounced inspection by CJINI and HMIP found Maghaberry "unsafe and unstable", with only 16 of 93 recommendations from the 2012 inspection achieved. Six self-inflicted deaths had occurred since the previous inspection, with high levels of violence and serious threats against staff. A 2022 inspection found safety had again declined. The pattern of management dysfunction, inadequate risk assessment, and security failures that the Billy Wright Inquiry identified at the Maze persisted at Maghaberry throughout the 2010s.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Lessons from HMP Maze reviewed for HMP Maghaberry. The Prison Review Team (Owers Review) established July 2010 examined conditions, management and oversight of all NI prisons including Maghaberry.
View detailed findings
Dame Anne Owers (former Chief Inspector of Prisons) chaired independent review team. Interim report February 2011, final report October 2011 identified need for significant improvements in governance, leadership, working practices and culture at HMP Maghaberry.