Maghaberry Prison Assaults More Than Double in Four Years as Officers Demand Urgent Action
The number of assaults recorded at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim has more than doubled over a four-year period, according to figures released this week that have prompted the Prison Officers' Association in Northern Ireland to issue an urgent call for action from Justice Minister Naomi Long, warning that chronic understaffing and an increasingly volatile prisoner population are creating conditions that put both staff and prisoners at serious risk of harm.
Background
Maghaberry Prison, located near Lisburn in County Antrim, is Northern Ireland's only high-security prison for adult males. It holds approximately 1,000 prisoners, including those on remand, those serving long sentences for serious offences, and a significant number of prisoners with complex mental health needs. The prison has been a source of controversy for many years, with concerns about overcrowding, the management of paramilitary prisoners, and the adequacy of mental health provision recurring themes in inspections and reports.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service operates under significant resource constraints, a consequence of the broader Stormont budget deadlock that has affected all public services in the region. The Prison Officers' Association has been raising concerns about staffing levels at Maghaberry for several years, arguing that the ratio of officers to prisoners has deteriorated to the point where safe management of the facility is becoming increasingly difficult.
The prison's population has also become more complex in recent years. The proportion of prisoners with serious mental health conditions has increased, as has the number of prisoners serving very long sentences for serious violent offences. These factors, combined with the physical constraints of an ageing facility, have created a volatile environment that experienced prison officers describe as the most challenging they have encountered in their careers.
Key Developments
The new assault figures, released in response to a Freedom of Information request, show that the number of recorded assaults at Maghaberry has increased from 187 in 2022 to 412 in the twelve months to August 2026 — an increase of more than 120 per cent over four years. The figures include assaults on both staff and prisoners, with staff assaults accounting for approximately 35 per cent of the total.
Prison Officers' Association Northern Ireland chairman Finbarr Sheridan described the figures as "deeply alarming" and called on Justice Minister Naomi Long to convene an emergency meeting with prison management and staff representatives to address the crisis. "Our members are going to work every day in conditions that are becoming increasingly dangerous," he said. "The doubling of assaults in four years is not a statistical anomaly — it is a symptom of a system that is under severe and sustained pressure."
The Northern Ireland Prison Service acknowledged the increase in assaults and said it was "committed to the safety of all staff and prisoners." A spokesperson said the service was implementing a range of measures to address the issue, including enhanced training for staff in conflict de-escalation and the introduction of new technology to improve the monitoring of high-risk prisoners. However, the spokesperson declined to comment on the specific staffing levels at Maghaberry.
Why It Matters
The Maghaberry assault figures matter for several reasons. They are a direct indicator of the conditions inside a facility that holds some of Northern Ireland's most dangerous and most vulnerable prisoners, and they suggest that those conditions are deteriorating in ways that pose a serious risk to the safety of both staff and prisoners. A prison system that cannot maintain basic safety standards is failing in its most fundamental obligation.
The figures also have implications for the rehabilitation of prisoners. Research consistently shows that prisons characterised by high levels of violence are less effective at reducing reoffending than those that maintain a safe and stable environment. If Maghaberry is becoming more violent, the long-term consequences for public safety — in terms of the behaviour of prisoners when they are eventually released — are significant.
The political context is also important. Justice Minister Naomi Long has been one of the most active ministers in the current Executive, but her ability to address the resource constraints facing the Prison Service is limited by the broader budget deadlock. Without additional funding, the staffing levels and physical infrastructure improvements that would address the root causes of the assault increase cannot be delivered.
Local Impact
For the communities around Maghaberry — including Lisburn, Moira, and the wider Lagan Valley area — the prison is a significant employer and a constant presence in local life. Prison officers who live in these communities are experiencing the stress of working in an increasingly dangerous environment, and the impact on their families and their mental health is a concern that the Prison Officers' Association has raised repeatedly. The Lagan Valley area's elected representatives have been asked to raise the issue with the Justice Minister as a matter of urgency.
What's Next
The Prison Officers' Association has requested an emergency meeting with Justice Minister Long within the next two weeks. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has committed to publishing an updated safety action plan for Maghaberry by the end of October 2026. The Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, which has oversight of the prison system, has indicated that it will bring forward its next inspection of Maghaberry in light of the assault figures, with a report expected in the first quarter of 2027.
