THE Northern Ireland prison authorities will punish the IRA prisoners whose planned tunnel escape from the Maze Prison was foiled this week, according to BBC Radio Ulster last night, reports Gerry Moriarty, in Belfast. Prisoners in wings A and B of H-Block 7 will be locked in their cells overnight instead of just within their wings. There will also be several headcounts each day, and handicraft, computer and multi gym facilities are to be removed and there will be no movement in and between blocks. Moreover, family visits, parcels and temporary release privileges for all IRA prisoners at the Maze will continue to be suspended today.
These will be resumed when the Maze governor is satisfied the search of the Maze is "complete in all aspects", the Prison Service said in a statement last night. Loyalist prisoners have demanded that none of the punishments should apply to them.