AUTHORITIES IN the North are investigating the death of a prisoner in his cell at Magilligan Prison, Co Derry, at the weekend.
Prison authorities are understood to be examining whether the death of Richard Gilmore (25) was drug-related. The Prisoner Ombudsman and PSNI have been notified of the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
The deceased was due to be released within weeks after serving a nine-month sentence for criminal damage.
Finlay Spratt of the Prison Officers’ Association said: “Unless we introduce draconian measures, such as a system of glass wall visits, drugs will continue getting into the prisons. As long as visitors are interacting with prisoners you will never completely stop drugs.”
DUP MP for the area Gregory Campbell has asked direct rule security minister Paul Goggins to do more to combat the use of illegal substances in prisons.
“It is a difficult problem to try and solve but we need to try and ensure that there is some sort of reduction,” he said.
The death comes in the wake of the report into the death of Colin Bell at Maghaberry Prison which recommended a disciplinary investigation into the governor and deputy governor at the prison.
Mr Bell hanged himself at the fourth attempt, even though he should have been monitored by prison officers every 15 minutes.
The Prisoner Ombudman’s report into the death ran to 182 pages and contained 44 recommendations including restrictions on staff usage of televisions and makeshift beds. An internal investigation in October led to the suspension of 17 staff.
It is understood that staff were watching television when they should have been working and that it took 40 minutes to discover the body.
Mr Goggins admitted “significant failings” and said the death “should not have happened”.
Northern Ireland Prison Service director Robin Masefield accepted there had been “unacceptable failings” but promised “robust action” was being taken.