THE chief executive of the Prison Service in the North has said officers at prisons where paramilitary prisoners are held are still working in an environment of fear.
Mr Alan Shannon said that prisoners had considerable control of their wings and that the Maze prison in Co Antrim, where paramilitary prisoners are housed, was extremely difficult to manage.
The prison population in the North stands at 613, its lowest in some time. Staff outnumber prisoners two to one and Mr Shannon is looking for cost cutting measures. Negotiations are taking place between management and, the POA, the Prison Officers Association in the North.
Relations between staff and management have been tense and last week the POA passed a motion of no confidence in the chief executive.
Mr Shannon said the Maze is difficult to manage. "I would not be exaggerating when I say that staff on the wings, despite a much improved attitude in recent years, still suffer a great deal of frustration and even at times fear in that environment.
"The prisoners are in a considerable degree of control within their wings, but outside of that the prison authorities retain control of the perimeters both of the prison, of the segments and of the blocks themselves, so as far as I'm concerned the prison service continue and will continue to control the Maze," he said.
Mr Finlay Spratt, chairman of the POA, said: "We recognise that we are a public service like everyone else and we are not exempt from cuts."