HRH The Princess Royal visits HMP Maghaberry

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal today visited HMP Maghaberry in her role as Patron of the Butler Trust.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal today visited HMP Maghaberry in her role as Patron of the Butler Trust. Princess Anne toured Davis House, a new £54 million state of the art facility.

The Butler Trust is a national organisation which promotes and recognises excellence within correctional settings throughout the UK including in prisons, probation services, youth offending teams and charities which support prisoners.

Princess Anne was introduced to the Northern Ireland Prison Service Director General Ronnie Armour, and Maghaberry Governor David Kennedy, who accompanied her on a tour of Davis House where she spoke to staff, listening to their experiences and how they support people to change.

Ronnie Armour said:  “It’s a great privilege to welcome Her Royal Highness to Maghaberry and to have the opportunity to highlight how we are putting rehabilitation at the centre of everything we do and in particular how we support those who are vulnerable and have specific needs. It is fitting that Princess Anne visited Davis House which is the largest capital build undertaken by the Prison Service in over 30 years. This investment demonstrates our commitment to build a safer community by supporting and challenging the people in our care to change.

“Maghaberry has been recognised in recent inspection reports as delivering some of the best outcomes for the men in our care, which has also been acknowledged by The Butler Trust.  I want to thank the Trust for all they have done to make today’s visit possible.  Finally I want to pay tribute to all our staff who have received commendations and awards from the Trust.  They are a credit to Prisons and epitomise all that is good in public service in Northern Ireland.”

Notes to editors: 

1.    Maghaberry Prison is the only Category ‘A’ prison in Northern Ireland and also operates as a remand prison for all adult male prisoners in the country. It accommodates a range of sentenced prisoners such as life sentence, indeterminate and extended custody prisoners, separated prisoners, fine defaulters and civil prisoners.

2.    Davis House at Maghaberry is a new £54 Million state of the art facility opened in October 2019 incorporating 372 cells with24 observation cells, eight listener cells and eight universal access cells. The building also houses a 12 bed ‘safer cell unit’ equipped for vulnerable prisoners.

3.  All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of Justice Press Office, 028 9052 6444. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.

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