The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) has revealed that nearly £600,000 was paid in compensation to prisoners between January 2018 and December 2022. The claims included personal injuries and damage to property, raising concerns about the financial burden on the justice system.
Breakdown of compensation claims
A Freedom of Information request disclosed that 842 injury claims and 101 property claims were filed by inmates. Not all claims were successful, but £591,889 was paid out in settlements. The highest number of claims stemmed from Maghaberry Prison, Northern Ireland’s maximum-security facility, with 602 injury claims accounting for £361,292 of the total compensation. Magilligan Prison saw £151,950 paid out, while Hydebank Wood, which houses female and young offenders, accounted for £68,000.
Property claims were comparatively lower, with settlements ranging from £1,260 at Hydebank to £7,580 at Maghaberry. These claims covered items valued at £40 and above, with lower-value claims managed directly within the prisons.
Political concerns over high compensation costs
SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, a member of Stormont’s justice committee, expressed alarm over the scale of compensation payouts. “This is considerable spending that could be better used elsewhere,” he said. McNulty highlighted ongoing dangers within prisons, calling for improvements to reduce such incidents in the future.
Prison service response and future measures
A spokesperson for NIPS stated that lessons learned exercises are conducted after successful claims to mitigate future risks. The justice system continues to face significant budgetary pressures, with Justice Minister Naomi Long allocating an additional £39.3m to address critical needs. However, a £227m shortfall remains, exacerbating challenges across the sector.
Rising prison population adds to pressures
According to a Department of Justice bulletin, Northern Ireland’s average daily prison population rose by 11.4% during 2023/24 to 1,877 inmates. The male population grew from 1,607 to 1,787, while the female population increased from 78 to 90. The remand population also reached its highest level in nine years, rising by 13% to 686 individuals.
