The chief executive of the prison service in the North, Mr Alan Shannon, has condemned this week's attacks on the homes of serving and former prison officers. The gun and petrol bomb attacks are being linked to disturbances at the Maze Prison, which caused damage worth £250,000.
Mr Shannon has rejected claims that he reneged on assurances given to Loyalist Volunteer Force prisoners following a June dispute.
"We made it very clear to them that we would have real difficulties managing five factions in the Maze. And because of the threat against them from other groups, we would have to make very special arrangements to safeguard their safety during visits and other facilities.
"They accepted that, at least initially, their conditions would not be exactly the same as those for others," said Mr Shannon.
Gunmen opened fire with an automatic weapon on the Portadown, Co Armagh, home of a former officer. One shot passed through a bedroom window but no one was injured. Petrol bomb attacks were made on the homes of serving officers in Craigavon, Co Armagh, and Dungannon, Co Tyrone.
The Workers' Party president, Mr Tom French, said the attacks were "detestable".