| Prisoners unite against visiting plan 30 January 2005 By Barry O'Kelly Sunday Business Post Prisoners in all wings in Portlaoise jail are to vigorously oppose moves to introduce restrictions on visiting procedures. Informed sources within the jail said this weekend that representatives of the Provisional IRA, Continuity IRA, the separate Real IRA groups and the gangland wing are prepared to take a united stand against the plans. The Prison Service confirmed that "over the coming weeks" it would require each prisoner in Portlaoise to nominate six people who may wish to visit them. "The prisoner will have the option of changing the names, as long as they give advance notice of perhaps several days," said a spokesman for the service. The same procedures apply in only two other jails, Mountjoy and in St Patrick's Institution in Dublin. Dublin man Niall Binead, convicted of IRA membership last November, is believed to have made representations to the prison governor, expressing dissatisfaction about the plans. At least one other prisoner representative has formally complained to the governor. "There's complete unity on this," said a source close to the prisoners. "We will not be cooperating with the system if they try to introduce it. We simply will not put the names forward. "If the visits are denied, we will then have to consider action on foot of that." The Prison Service spokesman said the changes were being introduced to enhance security. "Two prisoner representatives have contacted the governor expressing dissatisfaction. "They certainly were not happy with it. "It will be introduced in the coming weeks," the spokesman said. "The special status of the prison will not affect the situation. It is an important security consideration." |