I firmly oppose the Justice Department’s proposal to close Magilligan Prison.  The decision is selfish towards Belfast, an economic disaster for the North West and a ridiculous haemorrhage of public money.  I urge the Justice Minister to consider the severe consequences of this closure.

The Prison Service feeds the local economy of Limavady and Coleraine.  A significant population of prison staff are local and local businesses serve the prison. Closing the prison will result in further jobs losses.  The North West has suffered greatly since the beginning of the economic downturn, closing the prison is yet another devastating blow that the area does not need.

Of course, I welcome Mr Ford’s plans for effective rehabilitation of offenders.  Ironically, Magilligan is an award winning prison for the initiatives it has implemented concerning effective rehabilitation.  He should learn from their example, not tear it down.  Further, I feel he needs to address the reasons why offenders commit crimes at all.  Unemployment and a poor economy are contributing factors as to why people offend.  Mr Ford is targeting an already vulnerable local economy in the North West if he takes away Magilligan Prison. 

I am astonished that one of the main reasons for closure is to benefit the families of prisoners from the Greater Belfast Area.  What about the families not from the greater Belfast area?  Whilst I appreciate that most prisoners in Magilligan are from the greater Belfast area, more people will be negatively affected by this move than those who will benefit, particularly if you consider the 400 staff that live within a 20 mile radius of the prison as well as the prisoners not originally from the greater Belfast area.

Mr Ford’s Prison Reform is proposing to potentially uproot 400 families of honest, hardworking staff to benefit the families of prisoners.  Prison is punishment.  It is not meant to be convenient.  Prisoners knew the consequences of their crimes and the impact it could have on their families when they made the decision to offend.  It is not rational or fair to accommodate those imprisoned for their crimes at the expense of those who work honestly for their living. 

It is claimed that Magilligan Prison is not fit for purpose and needs radical refurbishment.  Many of my constituents would argue that their living arrangements are not fit for purpose, but they simply make do.  Some of our hospitals, schools, and care homes for the elderly are not fit for purpose, yet the Executive is reluctant to equal the money proposed here to fund these necessary projects.

I appreciate Mr Ford has a budget to spend.  If it is necessary, spend it on a new security facility at Magilligan rather than taking it to Belfast.  I urge all local politicians to work together to reverse this disastrous proposal. 

DAVID McCLARTY MLA