Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LOCKDOWN PRISONERS LET LOOSE Foster & O’neill Highvisibility stand united in the police presence goal of saving lives to be maintained
Rodgers urges public to back the NI Hospice Long acts over ‘considerable risks’ of Covid-19 in jails
BRENDAN Rodgers has urged people to support the Northern Ireland Hospice, which is facing a loss of £10million this year.
Speaking in a video message from his home, the hospice ambassador and Leicester City boss urged the public to support the Now, More Than Ever appeal.
The Co Antrim man said: “During this crisis, like any other day, nurses, doctors, housekeepers and the staff at the Northern Ireland Hospice continue to support patients and their families through the most difficult times.
“But we are in a different time now and whilst the care and compassion continues, vital income the hospice needs has stopped.
“Here’s the reality, without the funds from our community the hospice cannot carry on. It will have to stop its vital services and we cannot let that happen.”
Donate at nihospice.org
JUSTICE Minister Naomi Long has ordered the early release of some prisoners amid fears coronavirus could put staff and inmates at “considerable risks”.
The Alliance MLA insisted she had no alternative as the Covid-19 pandemic “is causing us to consider measures that only a few weeks ago would have been unthinkable”.
She said the Prison Service “anticipate the release of fewer than 200 individuals” who will be freed, under strict conditions, over the coming weeks.
The announcement was made on a day when it was revealed the virus had claimed another life in Northern Ireland, taking the total to 22.
With 123 new cases of the infection reported, the overall figure now stands at 533.
Stormont leaders Arlene Foster and Michelle O’neill acknowledged they are at odds on certain coronavirus issues, but have insisted they are united on the main goal of saving lives. Earlier in the day, in a statement released by the Department of Justice, Mrs Long outlined the reasons behind the decision to release inmates.
She said: “These individuals will be subject to a number of NIPS applied conditions including a curfew, a requirement to follow all
Public Health Agency guidance during the current emergency period, a ban on victim contact, an alcohol ban and a ban on having any engagement with the media. It is important to note prisoners released under Rule 27 may be recalled to prison at any time whether release conditions have been broken or not.
“I am conscious that where possible we must ensure the general public has maximum confidence in actions undertaken by the Prison Service.
“Therefore I am limiting those who can be released temporarily for the purpose outlined above by excluding certain sentence types, certain offences and certain prisoners from being considered.”
Mrs Long outlined a number of conditions that will bar any prisoner from being considered for release including being in jail for certain offences.
Prisoners will not be included if their offences are those:
Involving homicide or manslaughter – including any offence which has contributed to or led to the death of an individual or individuals
Connected or related to terrorism Involving the use or possession of explosives
Involving the possession or use of a firearm or the use of an offensive weapon
Involving domestic violence or cruelty, or
Perpetrated on the grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation.
The Ulster Unionist Party’s justice spokesman Doug Beattie said: Of course some questions will arise, not least how you enforce an alcohol ban when the individual is confined to their