More prisoners, more violence: Inside Maghaberry's assault surge

Assaults at Northern Ireland's largest prison have more than doubled in the past four years as prison officers warn of growing pressure behind the walls.

There were 149 recorded assaults at Maghaberry Prison last year, compared to 69 in 2021 - an increase of 116%.

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said rising prisoner numbers were having a knock-on effect on both staff and prisoners.

Ivor Dunne, chairman of the POA, said the threat facing prison officers remained "serious", adding that prisoners may not remember who the arresting officer was but that they "will remember the person that unlocks you every morning and locks you up at night".

Data obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request suggests the rise in assaults has outpaced growth in Maghaberry's prison population:

• The number of prisoners held there increased by 31% between April 2022 and April 2025, from 1,000 to 1,307
• Over the same period, recorded assaults increased by 71%, from 87 to 149, according to figures from the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS)
• It also shows a 32% increase in assaults at Magilligan Prison and a 9% increase at Hydebank Wood over the same period

The figures only reflect the number of assaults that have been reported to prison staff.

Dunne, who has been a prison officer for 43 years, said the remand population is "through the roof" and this, he believes, has contributed to the rise in assaults.

A remand prisoner is someone who is being held in prison while waiting for their trial or sentencing to happen.

"The prison population at the moment is more than it has ever been."

Maghaberry holds both sentenced and remand prisoners, with Dunne pointing to the latter as a particular source of pressure.

Dunne described these people as being "very, very unsettling" because "they could be in prison today and out tomorrow".

"That frustration is then taken out on my members or other prisoners," he said, adding that the courts are "completely swamped".

Dunne added that he believes the barristers' strike contributed to the pressure on the prison population.

The number of assaults by prisoners on staff increased from 43 in 2021 to 56 in 2025.

While these incidents are a significant concern, the data shows prisoner-on-prisoner assaults accounted for the largest rise at Maghaberry.

There were 93 such incidents recorded in 2025, compared with 26 in 2021.

He contrasted Maghaberry with Magilligan Prison, which he described as having a "more stable prison population".

Dunne also raised concerns about the "enormous" number of prisoners experiencing mental health issues.

"Our staff or my members are not mental health nurses," he said.

"They are prison officers that are there to do a professional job and they do it in a professional way."

He said recruiting and retaining more prison officers was essential to maintaining stability within the prison system.

"We need more officers recruited, which we're in the process of doing, we need the right officers recruited."

Dunne said having more experienced officers in place would also help create stability, while the rate at which staff were leaving had "dropped quite considerably".

But with the prison population continuing to rise, he said there were few options available to the service.

When asked how Maghaberry could cope if prisoner numbers continued to increase, he said: "There is no other alternative."

NIPS said any assault, whether on a prison officer or another prisoner, was "wholly unacceptable and must be condemned".

It pointed to high prison populations and overcrowding as the most significant factors which contribute to increased incidents of disorder and violence.

At Maghaberry, it said sustained growth in the prison population had necessitated the reopening of older accommodation.

NIPS said the accommodation was "less suited to meeting the demands of a modern prison estate".

Every assault was subject to review and appropriate action was taken, it added.

Depending on the circumstances, this can include disciplinary measures, segregation and restrictions on association with other prisoners.

Incidents can also be referred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for criminal investigation.

A NIACRO (Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) spokesperson described the rise in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults as "deeply concerning".

They said violence in prisons could have "a significant impact on the wellbeing of people in custody".

"High prison populations, increasing numbers of people held on remand, and the prevalence of addiction, mental health and other personal challenges can all place additional pressure on the prison environment," they added.

Families could also experience "increased fear and worry" about the safety of loved ones in prison, the spokesperson said.

NIACRO said tackling the issue "should not be limited to dealing with assaults after they happen".