Recommendation R2: HMP Maghaberry lessons learned
From The Billy Wright Inquiry Report, published 14 September 2010.
Recommendation
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.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended that ministers ensure lessons from HMP Maze were learned for HMP Maghaberry. In November 2010, Robin Masefield, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS), stated that an audit across the prison estate had identified areas requiring corrective action and that work was in hand on an action plan (Northern Ireland Prison Service, Nov 2010). Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, also stated in November 2010 that planned remedial activities included physical infrastructure changes alongside updated policies and guidance (Owen Paterson, Nov 2010). Earlier, in September 2010, David Ford, Minister of Justice, had stated that a project team was appointed to analyse operating practices against identified weaknesses (David Ford, Sep 2010).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 1 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
There are three recommendations in the panel’s report. They cover the retention of prison records, whether any relevant lessons can be learnt for HMP Maghaberry, and whether a process similar to the Patten reforms of the RUC should be established for the Northern Ireland Prison Service. As the House is aware, prisons in Northern Ireland are now in the main a devolved matter. I will meet Justice Minister David Ford on Monday to discuss these recommendations.
Blanket government agreement does not establish acceptance or delivery by each addressee. Some response passages cover groups of recommendations.
Scope of the government response
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland named the three recommendations together, in one passage of his statement to the House of Commons on 14 September 2010, and said he would discuss them with the Justice Minister because prisons in Northern Ireland are in the main a devolved matter. That passage is shown on each recommendation and takes no position on any of them. The joint response of the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Office, with its annexes, was placed in the libraries of the House of Commons and the Assembly on 4 November 2010 and has not been published online. The Secretary of State's written statement and the Prison Service's press release of that day give an account of each recommendation and are shown as status updates.
Delivery
Northern Ireland Executive says in progress (4 November 2010)
Recommendation two required Ministers’ to satisfy themselves that any relevant lessons from The Maze have been learned for Maghaberry.
In response to this recommendation the Prison Service immediately commenced a review under the direction of a senior Governor to conduct a detailed audit of existing provision not only at Maghaberry, but across all three prison establishments.
Addressing the audit findings Mr Masefield said:
“While many areas of good practice were identified, the audit process did highlight a number of issues and areas where NIPS is not fully compliant with the standards prescribed in the report and where corrective action is appropriate.
“Work is now in hand to take forward an action plan to address the areas highlighted for review and analysis. Remedial activities will include both physical infrastructure, where it is deemed operationally warranted, and the updating of some policies and guidance.”
From: Government publishes response to Wright Inquiry Team recommendations, Northern Ireland Prison Service
Site note: These are the words of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, an agency of the Department of Justice, from its press release of 4 November 2010 (Internet Archive capture of the old Department of Justice site). The site holds no record for the Prison Service or the Department, so the row is filed under the Northern Ireland Executive. The release summarises the joint Department of Justice and Northern Ireland Office response, which was placed in the libraries of the Assembly and the House of Commons and is not online.
Northern Ireland Office says in progress (4 November 2010)
In response to the second recommendation requiring NIPS to satisfy themselves that any relevant lessons from HMP Maze have been learned for HMP Maghaberry, the summary of a recent audit undertaken by the NIPS, and the steps being taken as a result, can be found at annex C of the documentation placed in the Library of the House. Remedial activities will include both physical infrastructure, where it is operationally required, and updating of certain policies and guidance.
From: Billy Wright Inquiry, Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Site note: The Secretary of State's written statement summarises the joint Department of Justice and Northern Ireland Office response placed in the Library of the House that day. The annexes it refers to are not online.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Northern Ireland Executive (29 September 2010)
Immediately on publication of the Billy Wright Inquiry report, work was set in hand.
The Director General appointed a project team led by a Senior Governor, which began its task on Friday 17th September. The team will report to me as soon as practicable with an evidence-based comparative analysis of the weaknesses identified in the report against current operating practices specific to Maghaberry, and also referenced across the wider prison estate. In the event that identified weaknesses are shown not to have been successfully addressed within current operating practices, corrective action will be initiated and tracked.
From: AQW 497/11 (Northern Ireland Assembly written question on the Billy Wright Inquiry and Maghaberry prison), David Ford, Minister of Justice, Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)
Site note: This is the answer of the Minister of Justice, for the Department of Justice, to written question AQW 497/11. The site holds no record for the Department of Justice, so the row is filed under the Northern Ireland Executive, of which the Minister is a member.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Northern Ireland Office
Response, delivery statement - Northern Ireland Executive
Delivery statement