Unofficial industrial action by hundreds of Northern Ireland prison officers caused serious disruption last night after nearly 90 per cent called in sick.
This was the second time this week officers telephoned to say they were sick. Some came into work but left shortly afterwards, saying they were sick.
A dispute over security procedures for officers following the discovery that 1,400 prison officers' details were on a disc recovered as part of a police investigation into an alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont.
To cover the gaps left by the absent prison officers, Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were called in to staff the prisons for the second day.