North’s prison officers to be awarded danger money in light of dissident threat

More than 1,000 Northern Ireland prison officers, mostly recruited since 2002, are to receive extra "danger money" pay in light of the threat from dissident republicans.

Minister for Justice David Ford had referred the pay issue to an independent review board which has recommended that £1,320 (just over €1,550) be paid to qualifying officers.

The arrangement for extra pay is to be maintained as long as the security threat remains, and is to be reviewed every two years.

The “danger money” award will apply mainly to newer recruits to the Prison Service who have joined since 2002. They currently earn between £18,000 (€21,800) and £21,000 (€25,400). The average wage in Northern Ireland is about £24,000 (€29,000).

Dissident republican prisoners are held at the North's main prison, Maghaberry outside Lisburn,
Co Antrim. David Black, a prison officer there, was murdered by dissidents in November 2012 as he drove to work along the M1 from his home in Co Tyrone.

The DUP chairman of the Stormont justice committee, Paul Givan, welcomed the pay award. "Prison staff live under a general threat of violence," he said. DAN KEENAN