Jail Hell
The Andersonstown News has been given exclusive access to dissident republican prisoners who are desperately fighting for the right to segregation inside Maghaberry Jail.
Our exclusive insight into procedures within the prison service follows news of a small breakthrough by the Secretary of State Paul Murphy who announced that a review into security at the prison is due to start.
From inside the high-level security jail our reporter was able to find out exactly what has been going on behind the scenes and the truth behind the recent weeks of media speculation.
In Maghaberry Jail loyalist and republican inmates share the same wings. Currently the jail houses some of Belfast's most notorious paramilitaries including North Belfast UDA brigadier Andre Shoukri, Mo Courtney and Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair.
For five weeks CIRA and RIRA prisoners, both on the remand and sentenced wings, have been smearing excrement on their cell walls to highlight their anger at the extreme threat posed to their lives inside the prison walls from loyalists.
Throughout the protest the Prison Service has punished these men on a regular basis by placing them in solitary confinement, denying them their family and legal visits and rationing their food.
With the news that New Lodge man John O'Hagan was recently attacked by UDA terrorist Ihab Shoukri the men said the need for segregation is urgent.
"We are determined to see this through. It is a basic and fundamental right for all of us who have to serve our time here, to be able to eat, sleep and exercise without fear of attack. If Catholics and Protestants do not live together outside then why is it expected for us to share the same living quarters in an even more confined space?
"There is no other way for us to achieve segregation other than by using this form of expression. We have tried so many times to make them listen to our fears since we learned of the threats to our lives sent to the governor of Maghaberry by loyalists. But it has fallen on deaf ears. We will continue with our protest until segregation has been achieved."
The legal team at Kevin Winters & Company are currently in the process of a judicial review against the Prison Service in the case of 11 men who are on protest.
They have maintained that the men's rights to showers, visits and legal representation are continually being denied and contravene the prison's own guidelines and those of the European Court on Human Rights.
According to prison affidavits, which will be used in the judicial review court case against the Prison Service, the visiting system works in a vicious circle.
In one statement Kevin Murphy, who has served over 18 months on remand, said he is denied access to his family because he is "constantly charged with offences against prison discipline, adjudicated and found guilty".
This is the case, he said because "I have refused a direct order to clean my cell".
"Excrement is smeared on the walls of my cell.
"I am aware that the Prison Service are currently employing independent contractors to clean the cell walls and they are equipped with power hoses, protective clothing, goggles and special cleaning chemicals.
"I am being asked to clean this off the walls by officers on my landing who have informed me that they will give me a pair of latex gloves, a scouring pad and some detergent."
By refusing to clean his cell Kevin and others who have also refused to comply are sent to the punishment unit for three days of cellular confinement.
According to the Prison Service if the men don't clean their cells, they are refused a shower, which is required by the Health and Safety Act if visits are to take place.
This punishment also means that families and relatives who have travelled for hours to see their loved ones are told the visit has been cancelled.
In addition we can reveal Maghaberry is certain to hit crisis point with the prison approaching its maximum capacity.
With a maximum of 714, a Prison Service spokesman confirmed to us there are currently 643 prisoners housed in Maghaberry.
With reports that staff levels are significantly down with officers on sick leave, prisoners told us they are increasingly worried.
"We normally get out of our cells around 8.30am for a couple of hours. One day we were told that we would be staying in our cells all day because there weren't enough staff to cover. If this is what's happening, then how is the Prison Service supposed to guarantee our safety?"
Mike Ritchie, Director of Coiste na n-Iarchimí which represents republican ex-prisoners and their families has called on the NIO and the Prison Service to end the policy of forced integration immediately.
"Throughout the course of the last 25 years, each time the NIO introduced forced integration in the prisons it resulted in chaos and needless suffering by prisoners.
"One only has to recall the experience of the 1980s to understand that this policy does not work, and to employ it at this time is wholly unwise.
"We are calling on all our groups and members to support our call to end this policy and to attend all protests in solidarity with the prisoners."
A spokesman from the Pat Finucane Centre said it would be supporting the call for segregation.
"The current system is certainly placing these prisoner's lives in danger. We can't see any reason why this demand for segregation isn't being met when you consider their human rights are being breached. The Prison Service has a legal duty and responsibility to not only incarcerate but to protect the lives of the men inside."
Meanwhile Geraldine Taylor of Republican Sinn Féin said she believed there was no need for a review to take place.
"I really don't think it's necessary. Yes, the Prison Service has finally woken up and decided something's wrong and safety precautions have to be taken.
"But there is no need for a review - just give the men what they want, which is the right to segregation for their own protection.
"Already in Maghaberry Jane Kennedy has installed selective segregation with Johnny Adair placed in an isolated unit. We don't even want this. All we want is for our republican prisoners to be housed together for their own safety."
In a statement the Prison Service has strongly maintained that the prisoners' safety is their first priority.
A prison spokesman further added it was because of the protest that their staff were taking more time off.
"The men are finding it very hard to work under these conditions, and as a result the number of staff on sick and leave is higher than normal. But we are taking steps to redress this situation."