The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition has expressed concern at the large number of male prison guards employed in the North's only female penal institution, writes Clare Murphy
Ms Monica McWilliams said she noted on a recent visit to Mourne House, the women's unit at Maghaberry jail, Co Derry, that there were an unusually large number of male prison guards.
The North's Prison Service confirmed that 52 male and 28 female staff were currently employed at the unit. The figures compare to 11 male staff and 62 female staff employed there in 1999 before closure of the Maze prison.
A spokesman said 16 women were currently accommodated in the unit.
Ms Celesta McCann James, of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, said Mountjoy women's prison enforced a strict ratio of 90 per cent female staff and 10 per cent male staff at all times.
"It is totally inappropriate to have large groups of women governed and managed by men," she said.
Ms Frances Crook, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the ratio at Mourne House was "outrageous".
She emphasised that any prison officers who worked in the Maze should be retrained before working with female inmates.